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브레이크뉴스 정민우 기자= 경제계가 50인 미만 사업장 중대재해처벌법 적용 유예를 다시 한 번 촉구했다.
한국경영자총협회, 대한상공회의소, 한국경제인협회, 한국무역협회, 한국중견기업연합회 경제 5단체는 23일 오후 국회 소통관에서 ‘중대재해처벌법 50인 미만 사업장 적용유예 촉구 공동 성명’ 을 발표했다.
경제계는 “경제계는 83만이 넘는 50인 미만 중소·영세사업장이 만성적인 인력난과 재정난으로 중대재해처벌법 시행을 준비하지 못한 상황을 고려해 법률의 적용유예를 그동안 수차례 촉구했다”고 밝혔다.
이어 “중대재해처벌법 2년 연장 후 추가유예를 요구하지 않을 것과, 정부 대책이 실효성 있게 이뤄질 수 있도록 적극 협력할 것을 약속했다”며 “이러한 경제계의 약속과 절박한 호소에도 불구하고 법시행 나흘을 앞둔 지금, 국회에서는 법안의 논의조차 이뤄지지 않고 있다”고 지적했다.
또한, “여기에 더해 국회 다수당인 더불어민주당은 정부에 연내 산업안전보건청 설치와 예산 확대를 중대재해처벌법 유예 연장의 추가 논의조건으로 내세우고 있다”고 토로했대.
그러면서 “중대재해처벌법 근본 목적은 기업경영인 처벌에 있지 않고, 산재 예방을 통한 중대재해 감축에 있다”며 “법률의 즉각 시행으로 처벌을 강화하는 것보다 유예기간을 통해 보다 많은 정부지원과 사업장 스스로 개선방안을 찾도록 논의하는 것이 재해예방을 위한 가장 현실적인 방향이다”고 설명했다.
경제계는 “만약 이대로 사업주를 강력하게 처벌하는 중대재해처벌법이 시행되면 사업장 폐업과 근로자 실직 등 많은 우려가 현실화 될 것”이라며 “국회는 50인 미만 사업장의 절박한 현실을 외면하지 말고 하루 속히 중대재해처벌법 유예법안을 처리해 달라”고 요청했다
이어 “경제계도 사업장 안전문화 확산, 중소기업 안전역량 강화를 위해 교육·컨설팅 등 다양한 사업을 전개해 나가겠다”고 약속했다.
한편, 이번 성명식에 참석한 국민의힘 규제개혁추진단 위원장인 홍석준 의원은 “2022년 1월 중대재해처벌법이 시행됐지만 산업재해는 오히려 증가했고, 산업 현장에서는 중대재해처벌법 시행의 효과는 거의 없이 기업경영만 위축시킨다는 비판이 지속적으로 제기되고 있다”며 “무조건 처벌만 강화하면 산업재해가 감소할 것이라는 단편적 생각으로 현장의 목소리를 외면한 채 중대재해처벌법 적용을 확대하는 것은 기업과 근로자 모두에 고통을 주는 잘못된 결과를 야기할 뿐이다”고 꼬집었다.
break9874@naver.com
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>
Business community: If the Serious Accident Punishment Act is immediately implemented, business closures and unemployment will continue to occur. “We must postpone it.”
Break News Reporter Jeong Min-woo= The business community once again called for a postponement of the application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, the 5 economic groups of the Korea Employers Federation, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korea Economic Association, Korea International Trade Association, and Korea Federation of Mid-sized Enterprises announced a ‘joint statement calling for the suspension of application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees’ at the National Assembly Communication Hall.
The economic community said, “The economic community has repeatedly called for a postponement of the application of the law, considering that more than 830,000 small and medium-sized businesses with less than 50 employees are unable to prepare for the implementation of the Serious Accident Punishment Act due to chronic manpower shortages and financial difficulties.”
He went on to say, “We promised not to request an additional moratorium after the two-year extension of the Serious Accident Punishment Act and to actively cooperate to ensure that the government’s measures are implemented effectively.” “The bill is not even being discussed in the National Assembly,” he pointed out.
In addition, he complained, “In addition, the Democratic Party of Korea, the majority party in the National Assembly, is suggesting to the government the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and expansion of its budget within the year as additional conditions for discussion of extending the suspension of the Serious Accident Punishment Act.”
“The fundamental purpose of the Serious Accident Punishment Act is not to punish corporate managers, but to reduce serious accidents through industrial accident prevention,” he said. “Rather than strengthening punishment through immediate implementation of the law, more government support and self-improvement of workplaces are provided through a grace period.” “Discussing ways to find a solution is the most realistic direction for disaster prevention,” he explained.
The business community said, “If the Serious Accident Punishment Act, which severely punishes business owners, is implemented as is, many concerns, such as business closures and worker unemployment, will become reality,” and added, “The National Assembly should not ignore the desperate reality of workplaces with less than 50 employees and pass the Serious Accident Punishment Act as soon as possible.” “Please pass the deferral bill,” he requested.
He then promised, “The business community will also carry out various projects such as education and consulting to spread safety culture in workplaces and strengthen the safety capabilities of small and medium-sized businesses.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Hong Seok-jun, chairman of the People Power Regulatory Reform Promotion Team, who attended this statement ceremony, said, “Although the Serious Accident Punishment Act was implemented in January 2022, industrial accidents have actually increased, and the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act has had little effect at industrial sites, affecting corporate management. “Criticisms that it only diminishes the situation are constantly being raised,” he said. “Expanding the application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act while ignoring the voices of the field with the fragmentary idea that industrial accidents will decrease if only unconditionally strengthened punishment is wrong is causing suffering to both companies and workers.” “It only causes results,” he said.
