In preparation for the implementation of labor inspection duties by local governments in December, labor authorities will conduct intensive field training for newly appointed local labor inspectors. The training aims to standardize the expertise of seasoned inspectors across 36 inspection items, covering the entire supervisory process from wage arrears investigations to corrective orders and prosecutions.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 25th that it will launch a practical training program called 'Supervisory School' for new local labor inspectors starting on the 26th. This training is designed to enhance the professionalism of new inspectors ahead of the December 8 rollout of labor inspection duties by local governments.
To assist local labor inspectors in assessing various violations of labor laws that may occur in actual workplaces, the ministry has developed a new 'Local Labor Inspector Workplace Supervision Standard Manual.' This manual systematizes the methods used by experienced inspectors to verify facts by comparing multiple documents and applying relevant laws.
Specifically, the manual includes materials, judgment procedures, criteria, and follow-up actions for each of the 36 inspection items, such as wage calculations and the number of regular employees. Items requiring comprehensive fact-checking are categorized as 'in-depth reviews,' providing examples of issues and judgment cases that may arise in real-world situations.
New inspectors will undergo two weeks of theoretical training followed by six weeks of practical training. They will repeatedly practice assessing compliance by comparing wage ledgers and attendance records at simulated workplaces across nine sectors, including restaurants, manufacturing, and hospitality.
The training will also cover the entire supervisory process, from drafting inspection reports to issuing corrective orders and conducting investigations and prosecutions. In the field of industrial safety and health, participants will receive hands-on training regarding hazardous and risky factors that may occur in actual industrial settings, such as machinery, equipment, electricity, and confined space work.
A total of 27 new inspectors from eight local governments will participate in this training. Including 10 preliminary inspectors who completed training in August, the number of participants in related training programs is expanding. The labor authorities plan to grant inspector qualifications only to those who pass the completion evaluation after the training.
The local labor inspector system is designed to share some of the labor inspection duties previously handled by the central government with local governments. However, local governments will not supervise all workplaces immediately upon the law's enactment. Initially, they will assess their organizational structure, personnel, and training levels before selecting the workplaces to be delegated for supervision.
Among the eight local governments participating in this training, five, including Gyeonggi and Jeju, plan to begin labor inspection duties between December and January. The Ministry of Employment and Labor will conduct preliminary checks to ensure these five local governments have the necessary conditions for performing delegated tasks, including organization, personnel, and training.
Based on the diagnostic reports submitted by local governments, on-site inspections will be conducted, and any deficiencies identified will be addressed. After completing the preliminary checks, local governments will select the workplaces for delegation in consultation with the National and Regional Labor Inspection Council in November and will commence supervision in accordance with the law's implementation schedule.
Lee Hyun-ok, head of the Labor Policy Office at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated, "We have established a training system to ensure that even local labor inspectors who are taking on supervisory duties for the first time can make professional judgments and take appropriate actions in the field. We will thoroughly check the readiness of local governments while securing individual capabilities through training to ensure the stable establishment of local inspections."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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