Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to establish the standards for the working conditions in
conformity with the Constitution, thereby securing and improving the fundamental
living standards of workers and achieving a well-balanced development of the national
economy.
CHAPTER 3 WAGES
Article 42 (Payment of Wages)
(1) Payment of wages shall be directly made in full to workers in currency: Provided,
That if otherwise prescribed by Acts and subordinate statutes or by a collective
agreement, wages may partially be reduced or may be paid by means other than
currency.
(2) Wages shall be paid at least once per month on a fixed day: Provided, That this shall
not apply to extraordinary wages, allowances, or another similar payment, or those
wages prescribed by the Presidential Decree.
Article 43 (Payment of Wages in Contract Project)
(1) When a project is executed based on several tiers of subcontracting and a
subcontractor has failed to pay wages to workers because of a cause attributable to the
immediate preceding contractor, the immediate preceding contractor shall be liable for
the wages jointly and severally with the subcontractor concerned.
(2) The scope of the cause attributable to the immediate preceding contractor as referred
to in paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Presidential Decree.
Article 54 (Holidays)
An employer shall allow workers at least one paid holiday per week on the average.
CHAPTER 7 APPRENTICESHIP
Article 77 (Prohibition of Maltreat of Apprentices)
An employer shall neither maltreat training workers or probational workers, or other
workers, regardless of their title, whose objective is to acquire technical skills, nor have
them do his own domestic works or other works not related to the acquisition of
technical skills.
Article 79 (Minor)
A minor to whom Article 78 applies shall be granted twelve days' annual paid leaves per
year as referred to in Article 59 (1).
Article 95 (Prescription)
A claim for accident compensation as referred to in this Act shall be extinguished by
prescription, unless exercised within three years.
CHAPTER 10 DORMITORY
Article 101 (Protection of Dormitory Life)
(1) An employer shall not interfere with the private life of workers lodging in a
dormitory annexed to a business or workplace concerned.
(2) An employer shall not interfere with the election of staff required for the
autonomous management of a dormitory.
Article 108 (Restrictions on Person Having Authority to Exercise Judicial Police Power)
Only public prosecutors and labor inspectors shall have the authority to conduct
inspections, request the presentation of documents, and interrogate the employer and
workers as prescribed by this Act and any other labor- related Acts and subordinate
statutes: Provided, That this shall not apply to the investigation of crimes related to the
duties of labor inspectors.
ADDENDA
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. [Amended by Act No.
5510, Feb. 20, 1998]