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2d ago

South Korea Enacts Binding 20-Minute Rest Breaks for Outdoor Workers in 33°C Heat

Safety experts say legally binding rest breaks are only a first step toward a comprehensive heat-stress system using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index.

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Workers at a construction site in Seoul take a break amid a heat wave on July 8, 2025. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • New rule requires 20-minute rest breaks every two hours for outdoor workers when apparent temperatures surpass 33°C, taking effect next week.
  • Regulatory Reform Committee approved the Occupational Safety and Health Standards revision on July 11 after initial rejections over concerns about small and medium-sized enterprise burdens.
  • Early July’s record heat led to 1,357 emergency visits for heat-related illnesses and nine deaths, with outdoor worksites accounting for 28.7% of cases.
  • Migrant workers have been among the victims, including a Vietnamese day laborer in Gumi and a Filipino seasonal worker in Yeongju.
  • Experts and unions, citing low compliance with past voluntary guidelines, are urging adoption of WBGT-based work stoppages and mandatory cooling equipment to meet international best practices.