43rd Future Labor Reform Forum: Status and Challenges of Work Stoppage Rights

The 43rd Future Labor Reform Forum was held under the theme of “The Current Status and Challenges of the Right to Stop Work.” The forum examined how the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and the amended Trade Union Act affect occupational safety and health responsibilities in prime contractor-subcontractor relationships. In particular, it highlighted that in a situation where the scope of safety and health obligations for prime contractors and subcontractors remains unclear, safety measures taken by the prime contractor could be linked to the determination of employer status under the amended Trade Union Act.

The forum also broadly addressed major issues including employers’ duty to suspend work, workers’ right to stop work, occupational safety and health measures by prime contractors and subcontractors, and the determination of employer status and the scope of collective bargaining. In addition, participants discussed the need to reduce overlap and conflict among industrial safety-related laws and to clarify obligations and responsibilities in line with the respective roles of prime contractors and subcontractors. Through this, the forum explored directions for institutional improvement that could enhance the effectiveness of industrial accident prevention.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Date and Time: Friday, September 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m.

Venue: Pureun Hall

Host: Future Labor Reform Forum

Moderator: Seunggil Lee, Head of the Future Labor Reform Forum and President of the Korea ILO Association

Presenter: Jinwoo Jung, Professor, Department of Safety Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology

Discussants: Heumhak Cho, Professor, Inje University

Chaeeun Park, Specially Appointed Professor, Human Rights Center, Sogang University

Kangseop Lee, Senior Researcher, Industrial Accident Prevention Policy Team, Korea Employers Federation (KEF)

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Original title: <제43회 미래노동개혁포럼:작업중지권 현황과 과제>

Author: Future Labor Reform Forum

Date: 2026-09-11

Source: https://www.cfe.org/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=futurelabor&pn=1&idx=29527