The Ministry of Employment and Labor on July 17 began a monthlong inspection of farms and accommodations in rural areas for foreign laborers. Shown are seasonal workers from Cambodia on June 24 moving corn seeds at a corn field in Goesan-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Goesan-gun Office)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

Emergency inspections are underway in rural areas to protect the health of foreign laborers from the summer heat wave.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor on July 21 said that in cooperation with local governments from July 17, it is holding a monthlong on-site inspections of farms and lodging in rural communities where holders of the E-9 (non-professional employment) visa work and stay.

Pamphlets will be distributed in 17 languages on the five basic rules of on-site heat wave safety to foreign workers and their employers, and on-site inspections will check if the rules are being applied.

The five rules are provision of cool water; air conditioning; a break of at least 20 minutes every two hours; cooling devices; and reporting sick people through the 119 emergency hotline.

Also slated for inspection are the management of lodging in rural communities, air conditioning conditions and equipment, and electric and fire extinguisher facilities especially in farming areas with old buildings.

Multilingual counselors and interpreters will join the inspections to explain the safety rules to foreign laborers in their native languages.

Vice Minister of Employment and Labor Kwon Changjun said, "We will put all policy efforts to ensure that foreign laborers are safe and respected not only at their workplaces but also their residential spaces."

aisylu@korea.kr