Employment-support fine rules revised

The partial revision replaces the 3 million won ($2,168) penalty previously imposed for reporting failures with a scale of 1 million won ($723) to 3 million won ($2,168) based on the number of violations.

The change is intended to improve the appropriateness of fine assessments. The rules cover providers required to comply with special employment orders for veterans and reporting duties. Under the previous standards, providers that failed to file a report received the statutory maximum fine of 3 million won regardless of how often the violation occurred.

The partial revision, a presidential decree that went through Cabinet deliberation, was promulgated Aug. 25 and took effect that day. Fines imposed for violations before the revision will be included in calculating the number of violations under the new provisions. Higher penalties for repeat violations apply when the same violation has resulted in a fine within the preceding two years.

Fines may be cut by up to half for minor negligence, errors or efforts to correct a violation. Authorities may also consider the severity, motive and outcome of a violation when reducing a fine. Violators with unpaid fines are not eligible for a reduction.

Authorities may raise a fine by up to half where a breach is serious, causes substantial harm or lasts six months or longer. Any increase cannot exceed the statutory maximum.