South Korean workers made to pause work in deadly heat

• South Korea is set to introduce mandatory 20-minute breaks every two hours for outdoor workers during heatwaves.
• The new regulation, expected to commence next week, will apply to sectors such as construction, landscaping, and delivery when temperatures reach 33C.
• Employers failing to comply with the rule could face work stoppages or business suspension.
• This measure follows 28 heat-related deaths in South Korea between 1 June and 8 July, with nearly half occurring among outdoor workers.
• The move addresses increasingly frequent and prolonged heatwaves in the country, which scientists link to the global climate crisis, and aligns South Korea with other nations implementing similar worker protections.

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South Korea mandates breaks for outdoor workers in deadly heat