1 year after deadly factory fire, safety reforms for migrant workers still on hold

The charred remains of the Aricell lithium battery plant where a fire claimed the lives of 23 workers, June 26, 2024. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

A year has passed since a catastrophic fire ripped through a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, killing 23 people, most of them foreign workers. Yet many of the promised safety measures remain unfulfilled, casting doubt on the government’s commitment to protecting the country’s essential migrant labor force.

Despite the completion of a government study last year to outline an implementation plan for mandating occupational safety and health training for all foreign workers, progress on vital safety provisions has since stalled, leaving a significant gap in protections for a vulnerable workforce that often toils in high-risk industries.

The urgency for reform intensified after the Hwaseong fire exposed glaring gaps in workplace safety and education — especially for foreign workers.

Just three weeks after the tragedy, the government vowed to revise the Occupational Safety and Health Act to mandate safety training for all foreign workers, regardless of visa status. Officials also pledged to integrate safety education into existing support programs and extend training hours for those entering Korea under the Employment Permit System.

But a year later, none of these promises have materialized.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced plans to launch an e-learning platform to improve access to occupational safety and health training, allowing foreign workers to review materials repeatedly in their native languages. Authorities also said they would recommend completing the training during the visa issuance process.

However, a contract to develop the content was not signed until mid-May, nearly a year after the fire.

A memorial rally marking the first anniversary of the Aricell battery plant fire disaster takes place at Seoul Station, Saturday. Yonhap

A ministry official told The Korea Times that the training materials are expected to be available by the end of November. However, the timeline may be pushed back, the official added, citing the need to include subtitles in 17 languages.

"The recommendation process must be coordinated with the Ministry of Justice, but discussions have yet to begin," the official added.

The ministry is also still reviewing a proposed "safety and health interpreter" certification system aimed at strengthening safety education for migrant workers. The program will certify foreign students and marriage immigrants to serve as professional instructors for occupational safety training.

Another ministry official said a related research project is underway but declined to provide further details.

The government's safety enhancement plan for foreign workers also included measures such as installing high-visibility markings in workplaces and providing support for fire detection and alarm systems.

To date, not a single workplace has received government assistance for installing fire safety systems, and safety design improvements have been carried out at only three sites, according to labor ministry responses submitted to Rep. Park Hong-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Meanwhile, bereaved families and labor groups held a memorial rally on Saturday, condemning the lack of progress over the past year and demanding the prosecution of those responsible.