“‘20-minute break every 2 hours in 33°C heat’ rule to take effect from 17 July”, 15 July 2025

Starting 17 July, an amended regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards will require employers to provide a minimum 20-minute break every two hours when the perceived temperature reaches 33°C. If a worker dies due to a violation of this rule, the employer may face up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

The Ministry of Employment and Labour announced on the 15th that the amended safety regulation will come into effect on the 17th. This is a follow-up to last October’s revision of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Previously, employer responsibilities for worker health during heatwaves were outlined only as non-binding guidelines. The amendment now codifies them as mandatory health and safety measures.

The Administrative and Social Subcommittee of the Regulatory Reform Committee had twice recommended withdrawing the clause on mandatory 20-minute breaks every two hours, citing the burden on small businesses during reviews on 25 April and 23 May. However, after passing a third review on 11 July, the revised regulation is set to take effect.

Under the new rule, if a worker performs tasks for more than two hours during extreme heat—defined as a perceived temperature above 31°C—employers must install and operate cooling and ventilation systems or adjust work schedules, regardless of whether the work is indoors or outdoors. If these measures are insufficient and the temperature still exceeds 31°C, employers must provide periodic rest breaks.

…However, even after the rule comes into effect, workers who do not fall under the legal definition of “employee” under the Labour Standards Act will not be protected. In particular, specially-employed mobile workers such as delivery riders, courier workers, and appliance installation and repair technicians are highly exposed to heat risk, yet remain inadequately protected in terms of their right to work safely. Between 4 and 8 July, three courier workers at CJ Logistics died in succession, with the courier union suspecting heat-related causes.

On the same day, the Korean Federation of Service Workers’ Unions issued a statement calling for heat safety rules to be applied “regardless of employment status” and urged policymakers to “design measures such as the Safe Delivery and Safe Freight Fare systems to guarantee income support, so that platform and specially-employed workers can actually exercise their right to stop work during extreme heat.”

The Ministry of Labour has stated its intention to strengthen cooperation with local governments and platform companies to prevent heat-related illnesses among mobile workers, including couriers and delivery riders.