By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter
GS Engineering & Construction, and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering have been named by labor union umbrella groups as the nation's most perilous workplaces, with large numbers of workers at the two companies being killed in various industrial disasters.
A group campaigning for the prevention of industrial deaths, jointly launched by the nation's two largest labor umbrella groups, said Tuesday that a total of 14 GS workers died from a range of industrial accidents in 2009, the largest among domestic builders.
The two groups are the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).
Daelim Industrial came in second among builders, reporting nine industrial deaths, followed by Keangnam Enterprises and Ssangyong Engineering & Construction both at eight deaths.
Daewoo topped the list of manufacturers as six workers at the world's third-largest shipyard were killed on the job.
In cooperation with the liberal Democratic Labor Party and labor-friendly civic groups, the group also staged a mock awards ceremony, dubbed ``a killer company selection ceremony,'' in a bid to criticize businesses at which employees perish while at work.
It has been announcing a list of firms with a large number of industrial deaths since 2006 to encourage them to improve work safety.
Labor unions also named the Ministry of Public Administration and Security as the worst public sector employer, saying a total of 27 workers hired under the public job program died at work last year. Nearly 2,400 individuals sustained various injuries on the job. Both industrial deaths and injuries that occurred in the public sector were more than twice those of ordinary manufacturers, they said.
Outstanding industrial deaths in both public and private sectors totaled 2,181 in 2009, the group said, urging employers to do more to prevent industrial accidents.
``To become a socially responsible corporate member, companies should place top priority on preserving the lives and health of employees. The government should strengthen its oversight of unsafe workplaces and force companies to enhance worker safety. If not, all society will act to force both to do what they are supposed to,'' the KCTU said.