SMEs demand suspension of workplace safety act

[Photo by Lee Seung-hwan]

About 4,000 South Korean small and medium-sized construction and business owners gathered near Suwon Station in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday, where they urged politicians in a rally to postpone implementing the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

In a statement, 14 organizations, including the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) and organizations supporting small construction and business owners, appealed to the National Assembly and the government to pass a bill to suspend the act, which is currently in effect, for two years for businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

“Even surveys showed that the general public are in favor of suspending the act for small businesses. We urge the National Assembly to pass the bill to suspend the act in the plenary session scheduled for February 29th, 2024, so that politics does not hold back the economy,” KBIZ Chairman Kim Ki-moon said.