Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

 

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a special inspection into accounting firm Samjong KPMG after two of its accountants died in separate incidents within the past three months.

The ministry said on March 16 that it began the inspection on March 12 and is conducting an intensive review of compliance with overall labor-related laws at the firm.

At Samjong KPMG, a staff accountant in his 30s died on March 6, following the death of another accountant from the same firm in November last year.

The incidents have sparked claims that excessive working hours during the audit season may have contributed to the deaths. The most recent victim reportedly oversaw on-site audits and related operational work.

The firm currently operates under a discretionary work hour system and a selective work hour system.

However, allegations have emerged that the systems may have been improperly implemented, with employees reportedly working more than 80 hours per week due to heavy workloads while being unable to accurately record overtime hours.

Through the inspection, the ministry plans to review the appropriateness of the firm’s discretionary and selective work hour systems, possible misuse of the comprehensive wage system, and whether employees were properly granted leave, breaks and holidays.

Authorities said strict measures will be taken if violations of labor laws are identified during the inspection.

 

 

 

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