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More than half of the 103 workers at the factory, including some of the deceased, were workers on temporary contracts.
On 24 June, a huge explosion set fire to a lithium battery factory in South Korea, killing 23 women workers. The fire started at 10:31 a.m. local time after a series of batteries exploded inside a warehouse containing about 35,000 units. The fire spread through the factory run by battery maker Aricell in Hwaseong, a major industrial cluster about 90 minutes southwest of the capital Seoul. Established in 2020, Aricell makes primary lithium batteries for sensors and radio communication devices. Park, Aricell’s CEO, said the company had fully complied with safety, paperwork and training, but more than half of the 103 workers at the factory, including some of those killed in the accident, were contractual workers, hired through a man power company.
Officials reported that the victims probably succumbed to the extremely toxic gas derived from the fire. Among the 23 dead workers, 17 were Chinese, 5 were South Korean and 1 was from Laos, of whom 17 were women and 6 were men.
In recent decades, many people from China have migrated to South Korea in search of work, as have other migrants from Southeast Asian countries: they often end up in factories or in physically demanding and low-paid jobs that South Koreans do not want to take on. In the electronics industry, the most vulnerable groups in terms of labour rights violations are migrants, women and young people, and contractual workers.
The chemicals used in the manufacture of batteries are highly flammable, and it is therefore essential that strict safety measures are applied. It is clear that the safety of Aricell workers was neglected. This incident highlights serious lapses in safety protocols, with fatal consequences.
A foreseeable and preventable accident
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has condemned the incident as the worst chemical explosion and the largest industrial accident involving migrant workers in the history of South Korea. They stressed that this disaster was foreseeable and preventable, given the history of lithium battery explosions and inadequate safety measures at the factory. Despite numerous safety checks, no effective countermeasures were implemented.
KCTU has called for immediate and comprehensive support for the victims and their families, transparent communication about the cause of the accident, the involvement of the victims’ families in the investigation of the accident, and strict implementation of the Major Disaster Punishment Act to ensure severe penalties for those responsible.
The National Metal Workers’ Union echoed the events, highlighting the factories’ repeated failure to prioritise workers’ safety over profit. They noted that the fire and subsequent explosions at Aricell highlight systemic issues within the industry, especially the exploitation and inadequate protection of migrant workers. The Union calls for a complete overhaul of industrial safety systems and a thorough investigation to prevent a recurrence of such accidents.
Justice and reparation
From SETEM Catalonia, we want to express our condolences to the families of the victims and our support to the people affected. We also stand in solidarity with the organisations and working groups that are calling for immediate help for the families of the deceased and the injured workers. We demand swift justice for those who have lost their lives at their workplace. The South Korean government must hold Aricell accountable for this gross negligence and ensure that these violations of occupational health and safety rights are properly sanctioned in accordance with national laws. This tragedy underlines the urgent need for strong safety standards and their strict enforcement to protect all workers, regardless of their nationality, gender or employment status. The safety and health of workers must be the top priority, and systemic changes are essential to prevent future tragedies.
We endorse the statement of the Asian Network for Worker and Environmental Victims’ Rights (ANROEV), denouncing the gross negligence and violations of workplace health and safety rights that led to the tragic deaths of the 23 workers in the fire, demanding:
– That the government assumes its responsibilities for the safety of the workers.
– Due compensation and support to be provided to the families of the workers killed and those injured in the fire.
– A full judicial investigation of the factory fire and prompt information to the public, especially the families of the victims.
– Justice for the Aricell workers.
– The Serious Disaster Punishment Act to be enforced, ensuring that Aricell and all its officers involved in this gross negligence of occupational health and safety standards are held accountable and given appropriate penalties under the law.
Sources:
– News story to South China Morning, published on 24 June.
– News story in Reuters, published on 25 June.
