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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Human Rights Commission: Improve kitchen work environment in correctional facilities, ensure more holidays

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • South Korea's National Human Rights Commission recommended improvements to working conditions and additional holidays for inmates working in correctional facility kitchens.
  • The commission cited concerns about excessive working hours, insufficient holidays, and inadequate safety equipment based on a complaint.
  • While the prison administration stated compliance with regulations, the commission still advised enhancing safety measures and providing more rest days to prevent accidents.

South Korea's National Human Rights Commission has called for better working conditions and more holidays for inmates assigned to kitchen duties in correctional facilities. The commission issued recommendations to the Minister of Justice on October 11, urging the development of measures for additional holidays for these workers.

The recommendations also include reviewing the proper use of safety equipment within kitchen work environments and ensuring inmates are equipped with suitable protective gear. These calls stem from a complaint filed by an inmate, identified as 'Mr. B,' who worked in the kitchen of 'A' correctional facility for about a year starting in March 2024. Mr. B claimed to work over 80 hours per week, exceeding the legal maximum of 52 hours, and only received one to two holidays per month. He also alleged insufficient provision of work supplies like rubber gloves and that his work incentive pay fell below minimum wage.

The commission recommended additional holidays to improve work quality and prevent accidents.

— National Human Rights CommissionThe commission's conclusion after investigating inmate complaints about working conditions in prison kitchens.

The 'A' correctional facility countered that actual working hours, excluding meal, rest, and personal maintenance time, were within the 52-hour weekly limit. They stated that holidays were provided once every two weeks, aligning with the law. The facility also claimed that necessary supplies were immediately provided and that the incentive pay was a discretionary benefit, not wages for labor.

Following an investigation, including interviews and on-site inspections, the Human Rights Commission found that while inmates did have meal, rest, and personal maintenance time separate from work, the facility's safety management showed gaps. Witnesses reported experiencing burns, indicating potential issues with safety protocols. Consequently, the commission recommended additional holidays to improve work quality and prevent accidents. They also stressed the importance of reviewing the safety and hazardousness of work supplies and chemicals used in kitchens, and ensuring the use of appropriate safety equipment such as aprons and rubber shoes.

It appears there are gaps in workplace safety management.

— National Human Rights CommissionThe commission's observation regarding safety protocols in correctional facility kitchens, based on inmate testimonies of burns.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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