The expanded implementation of the workplace safety law, penalizing employers for serious industrial accidents, is set to take effect later this week as scheduled, as rival parties have failed to agree on granting an additional two-year grace period for small businesses.

Under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, owners or CEOs of companies with 50 or more employees face at least one year in prison or fines of up to 1 billion won (US$749,000) in the event of fatal on-duty disasters caused by lax workplace safety measures. Its application to businesses with fewer than 50 employees is set to commence Saturday.

Floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) convened Wednesday to discuss a revised bill aimed at delaying the implementation for two years.

However, they were unable to reach an agreement before the scheduled plenary session later Thursday.

“The bill will not be passed today,” said Rep. Hong Ik-pyo, the DP’s floor leader, adding that the govern
ment has not responded to the party’s conditions.

For companies with fewer than 50 employees, which account for about 80 percent of all serious accidents, the government had granted a grace period until Saturday. Companies with fewer than five employees are not subject to the law.

The number of on-duty disasters has not decreased since the law took effect, raising questions about its effectiveness. Business owners and the PPP argue that the law does not clearly define the criteria for punishment and that small and medium-sized firms lack preparation due to their limited conditions.

Source: Yonhap News Agency