1 in 3 workers with industrial accidents “experienced unfair decisions after government audit”

After the government conducted a specific audit of industrial accident insurance, a labor union survey found that one in three workers who suffered industrial accidents experienced unfair industrial accident judgments, including delayed approvals.

On the 16th, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions announced the results of the ‘Survey on the Status and Status of Industrial Accident Insurance Applications for Industrial Accident Workers’ conducted for 12 days starting on the 4th of last month targeting 8 industrial accident worker organizations (119 industrial accident workers). △Current status and actual status of industrial accident insurance application to workers with industrial accidents △Types of industrial accidents and occupational diseases Problems in the industrial accident approval process △Experiencing economic difficulties after the occurrence of industrial accidents △How to prepare living expenses and bear treatment costs △Necessity of introducing an industrial accident insurance pre-payment system △Industrial accident medical care We investigated the form of return to work after termination and whether or not the employee experienced unfair industrial accident judgments after a specific audit of industrial accident insurance.

According to the survey, 36.1% answered “yes” to the question, “Have you ever experienced an inappropriate or unfair industrial accident judgment or decision from the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service after a specific audit by the Ministry of Employment and Labor?” 71.4% agreed on the possibility that a specific audit could have a negative impact on the Corporation’s industrial accident judgment or industrial accident compensation decisions such as nursing care and treatment.

Among unfair experiences, sudden termination of industrial accident care was the highest at 39%, followed by delay in approval for re-medical care at 19.5%, and conservative industrial accident judgment at 12.2%.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor conducted a specific audit for two months in November last year, saying that industrial accident cartels were frequent due to lax industrial accident approval and nursing care management. As a result of the audit, 486 cases of illegal supply and demand worth 11.325 billion won were discovered. In relation to this, the labor community claimed that some cases were overstated and the reality was misled.

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions said, “The government identified workers with industrial accidents as an ‘industrial accident cartel’ group without even a clear basis and forcibly classified long-term care patients as ‘industrial accident patients.’ As a result of the specific audit conducted, even workers who were rightfully recognized as industrial accidents were harmed. “It has been revealed that there is,” he said, adding, “We need to improve the system and prepare support measures so that workers with industrial accidents can receive proper treatment and compensation and return to society.”

This survey also revealed that many workers are experiencing difficulties during the industrial accident handling process. Only 24.3% of respondents said they were clearly aware of the industrial accident handling process, and 54.6% of respondents said they experienced difficulties during the industrial accident handling process. In response to the reason, lack of knowledge and information about the industrial accident handling process was the highest at 40.0%, followed by administrative difficulties due to the complex industrial accident handling process at 18.5%, and economic burden before industrial accident approval and the company’s non-cooperation at 15.4%. .

96.7% of respondents answered that it is necessary to introduce an industrial accident insurance pre-coverage system. This is interpreted as a result that reflects the reality that workers who apply for industrial accidents are experiencing financial difficulties due to the long industrial accident processing period and high out-of-pocket medical expenses. Regarding returning to work after completion of industrial accident medical care, the highest proportion of respondents at 26.9% responded that they were ‘no longer able to provide labor.’ Only 17.7% of people responded that they had returned to work, including their original workplace or another workplace.

Reporter Lee Ji-min [email protected]

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