South Korea mandates breaks for outdoor workers in deadly heat
South Korean workers made to pause work in deadly heat
- South Korea is set to introduce mandatory 20-minute breaks every two hours for outdoor workers during heatwaves.
- The new regulation, expected to commence next week, will apply to sectors such as construction, landscaping, and delivery when temperatures reach 33C.
- Employers failing to comply with the rule could face work stoppages or business suspension.
- This measure follows 28 heat-related deaths in South Korea between 1 June and 8 July, with nearly half occurring among outdoor workers.
- The move addresses increasingly frequent and prolonged heatwaves in the country, which scientists link to the global climate crisis, and aligns South Korea with other nations implementing similar worker protections.