Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon conducts an unannounced inspection of a university dormitory construction site in Dong-gu, Daejeon, on June 29, checking compliance with heat illness prevention measures and fall accident safeguards. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon conducts an unannounced inspection of a university dormitory construction site in Dong-gu, Daejeon, on June 29, checking compliance with heat illness prevention measures and fall accident safeguards. [Ministry of Employment and Labor]

The government has drawn up guidelines allowing public construction projects to be temporarily suspended during heat waves and heavy rain, with provisions to extend contract periods and cover additional costs incurred by contractors. Contractors will also be exempt from late-completion penalties if extreme weather delays their work.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Monday it had notified central government agencies, public institutions and other public contracting bodies of the new "Public Contract Work Guidelines for the Prevention of Heat Wave and Heavy Rain Damage."

The guidelines were developed to prevent safety accidents that could arise from pushing ahead with construction work to meet deadlines during the ongoing monsoon season, with heat wave alerts already issued in some parts of the country.

Under the guidelines, public contracting agencies must halt construction when heat waves or heavy rain are deemed to make work significantly difficult. Any suspension period will be recognized as a force majeure event, allowing the contract period to be extended and the contract amount adjusted to cover additional costs the contractor incurs.

Even when a project is not formally suspended, contractors will not face late-completion penalties if extreme heat or rain delays progress beyond the original completion deadline. The intent is to ensure contractors are not held responsible for construction delays caused by weather.

In addition, public contracting agencies must supervise and guide contractors to comply with relevant laws and guidelines on outdoor work, including the Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards and the Workplace Response Guidelines for Preventing Heat Illness During Heat Waves.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said it expects the guidelines to improve working conditions at public construction sites and help prevent casualties and safety accidents caused by heat waves and heavy rain. The government said it plans to introduce additional measures and pursue further improvements to related systems as needed to prevent safety accidents at public construction sites.


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