Signal Workplace accident deaths remain high despite the Serious Accidents Punishment Act

Summary

The government reports that fatal industrial accidents numbered 882 in 2020, 828 in 2021, 874 in 2022, 812 in 2023 and 827 in 2024. It observes that the level remains high compared with major advanced economies even after the Serious Accidents Punishment Act took effect in 2022. Accidents are concentrated in construction and small workplaces. In 2024, workplaces with fewer than fifty employees accounted for 81 percent of accident deaths and construction for 40 percent. The government presents this as a threat to the safety of workers in vulnerable sectors and part of a dual labour market.