Daegu is the only major city in South Korea without a laundry service for workers' uniforms

In Daegu, a stark disparity exists in worker welfare compared to other major South Korean cities: the absence of a dedicated laundry service for industrial uniforms. While five other metropolitan cities have either established or are planning such facilities, Daegu remains the sole exception, despite having outlined its own plans. This oversight is drawing sharp criticism from labor unions, who argue that it directly impacts the health and safety of the city's workforce.

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Daegu City should move quickly to install a laundry service for workers' uniforms for the safety and health of workers.

Labor groups, including the Daegu branches of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Metal Workers' Union, held a press conference highlighting the critical need for these services. They emphasize that workers in manufacturing, particularly in Daegu's numerous small-scale businesses (over 95% employ fewer than 50 people), are often exposed to hazardous chemicals. The contamination of work clothes poses significant health risks, including skin and respiratory issues, which can even extend to family members. The lack of a centralized, professional laundry service places an undue burden on individual workers and small enterprises.

Daegu's own 'Basic Plan for Worker Rights Protection and Welfare Improvement (2024-2028)' acknowledges this need, outlining the construction of three worker uniform laundries by 2025 and 2028. However, these plans have been stalled due to budgetary issues. City officials have cited financial difficulties in the past year as the reason for not allocating the necessary funds. They have assured that the project will be reconsidered and pursued once the new city administration is established in the latter half of the year.

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Workers in manufacturing are likely to be exposed to various hazardous chemicals. Contaminants remaining on work clothes can cause various health problems such as skin and respiratory diseases, and can even affect the health of family members.

This situation underscores a gap in Daegu's commitment to worker welfare, especially when contrasted with national trends and the initiatives of peer cities. The delay not only affects the immediate health concerns of workers but also reflects a broader challenge in prioritizing essential social infrastructure amidst fiscal constraints. The unions' ongoing efforts to survey workers and present their findings to the city aim to keep pressure on officials to fulfill their stated commitments and ensure Daegu does not lag further behind in providing basic protections for its industrial labor force.

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We empathize with the need for a worker uniform laundry service, but we could not allocate the budget as planned last year due to financial difficulties.