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There are conflicting arguments between companies and workers over 'investment in safety', as well as the right of workers to stop work when there is an imminent danger at the site.



Reporter Jae Hee-won also went to an automobile factory to see what kind of dispute could arise when the actual 'right to stop work' was used.



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Park Sang-ho, who has been working as a maintenance and inspection worker at Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant for 14 years.



He saw antifreeze leaking from a conveyor belt two years ago flowing to the floor and pressed the emergency stop button.



It was because there was a slipping accident five months ago and Mr. Park himself had the experience of slipping.



However, the company filed a claim for damages against Mr. Park, who exercised the right to suspend work, saying that the situation was not suitable for establishing a line.



[Park Sang-ho/Hyundai Motor Union Representative: I fell backwards or my legs slipped and went under the car (I built it because I could), so I had to run the line because no one was injured with this amount (he said.)



] The court ruled that workers should be compensated 32 million won, half of the amount of the lawsuit, citing the fact that the management took safety measures after the accident, although workers are sensitive to safety issues.



The right to stop work is a legal right of workers, but if work is stopped, it will inevitably lead to loss of the company, and there is always the possibility of lawsuits.



[Hyung-bae Hyung/Professor, Kangwon National University Law School: It is very unfair, legally, you have a right, but if you exercise it, you will receive compensation for damages and disciplinary action.

In really poor places, you cannot exercise the right to stop work.

So, in the UK, the right to stop work from a supervisor is much stronger than the right to stop work from an individual.]



In order for the right to stop work to be effectively guaranteed, a worker's immunity clause must be established through an agreement between labor and management, or safety measures must be taken after work is stopped so that work can be resumed immediately. .



(Video coverage: Kim Won-bae, Video editing: Park Chun-bae, CG: Kang Yu-ra)



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I have been constantly covering major disasters, and I will talk a little more with reporter Jae Hee-won of the Ministry of Economy who gave me the report earlier.



Q. The Severe Disaster Act, now?



[Reporter Je Hee-won: The government has promised thorough law enforcement, but it is still pointed out that it is insufficient.

An explosion at the Yeocheon NCC factory in February killed 4 workers and injured 4 others.

Immediately after the accident, the Ministry of Labor issued an order to stop work and started an investigation into the cause, but the plant was restarted without being able to determine the cause.

Let's listen to the union officials.]



[Kwan-shik Choi/Chairman of the Yeocheon NCC Serious Disaster Response Committee: The order to stop work was first lifted without announcing the cause of the accident.

That's why the Ministry of Employment and Labor gave permission, saying, 'An accident has occurred and a person has died, but the cause is unknown, but return the factory anyway.']



[Reporter Hee-won Je: The special labor supervision also started two months after the accident, but it was delayed due to a shortage of manpower after the enforcement of the Serious Disaster Act.]



Q. Continuing confusion



[Reporter Hee-won Je: The law requires safety to be responsible for the safety of the site. A manager is supposed to be appointed, but it's still unclear who should appoint this.

As a result, the primary agency shifts the responsibility of hiring a safety manager to the subcontractor, and subcontractors without labor costs have one of the workers hold this position concurrently.

Concurrent positions are permitted by law.

Workers say that having them do safety management while doing other work is virtually the same as saying not to do it.]



▶ 100 days from the enforcement of the 'Severe Accident Punishment Act'...

"Lack of accident prevention measures"