Tiered fines for employment-support reporting breaches

The revised rules establish a graduated system of fines for employment-support institutions that fail to report. The change is intended to improve the appropriateness of fine decisions for reporting-duty breaches.

The amendment takes effect immediately, replacing a 3 million won ($2,173) maximum fine for any failure to report with penalties of 1 million won ($724) to 3 million won depending on the number of violations.

A penalty for the same breach during the previous two years will set the next escalation level, with the highest prior level used where there is more than one penalty. The two-year period runs from the date of the earlier fine to the date the repeat violation is detected. Fine dispositions for violations before the change took effect also count.

Authorities can reduce an applicable fine by up to half where a failure was caused by minor negligence or error, or where an offender has made efforts to correct the breach. They may also grant reductions after considering the seriousness and motive of the violation, though not to offenders with unpaid fines.

Fines may be increased by up to half where a violation is serious and results in substantial damage, or persists for at least six months.