Heatwave Claims Lives of Migrant Workers in Forestry Jobs; Safety Measures Criticized

Migrant workers are increasingly vulnerable to life-threatening conditions in outdoor jobs like forestry and agriculture amidst a severe heatwave, with safety measures proving inadequate and deaths continuing to occur.

Ulsan City took the step of ordering forest maintenance operations, including grass cutting, to halt on June 27, a day when temperatures hovered around 35 degrees Celsius for the sixth consecutive day. The suspension is initially set until July 15. However, in the Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk regions, which are experiencing particularly intense heat, local governments have not discussed specific heatwave safety measures with the forestry associations. Instead, they have advised work sites to allow for more rest breaks or adjust working hours to earlier in the day based on perceived temperature.

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Forestry projects are rife with illegal subcontracting structures, and migrant workers are enduring murderous summer heat in the most dilapidated environments.

A local government official mentioned that the forestry associations, which are entrusted with the forest business, are reportedly strengthening safety management with on-site companies. However, Lee Chun-ki, director of the Gyeongju Migrant Workers Center, strongly criticized this approach. "Forestry projects are rife with illegal subcontracting structures, and migrant workers are enduring murderous summer heat in the most dilapidated environments," Lee stated. "Local governments are showing a passive attitude, leaving safety to the forestry associations."

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Local governments are showing a passive attitude, leaving safety to the forestry associations.

These concerns are amplified by a series of accidents involving migrant workers in outdoor labor settings. A particularly tragic incident occurred on July 24 last year when Shrestha, a migrant worker from Nepal (51), died while cutting grass during a forest maintenance project in Pohang City. He collapsed and died after working from 6 AM amidst five days of temperatures ranging from 31 to 35 degrees Celsius. He had only been working at the site for three days. He was not provided with heat-preventive gear like cooling vests, and there was no shaded area. The 119 emergency call was made an hour after he collapsed, and due to the difficult terrain, it took another hour to transport him to the hospital by helicopter. Shrestha was an daily laborer on a "field team," moving between sites rather than being employed by a specific contractor. Eight of the twelve team members, including Shrestha, were migrant workers, and they were all "ghost workers" with no official documentation.

The investigation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor into potential violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act has been stalled for a year. On June 28, labor and civic groups held a press conference in front of the Pohang branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, demanding a thorough investigation, strict punishment for those responsible, and the implementation of measures to prevent recurrence. In response to these concerns, Pohang City and the forestry association have proposed dividing this year's June-September work into two phases, with a break in between. However, the completion of the first phase varied by site, occurring between July 3 and 10. Another death occurred on July 4 at a forestry project site in Goesan County, Chungbuk, involving a 20-something Vietnamese worker, who is presumed to have died from heatstroke, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor is investigating potential violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

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We are demanding a thorough investigation, strict punishment for those responsible, and the implementation of measures to prevent recurrence.