The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, industry groups and labor unions will establish a public-private cooperation framework to improve working conditions for casino employees. The initiative aims to address workplace issues such as verbal abuse and secondhand smoke exposure through a coordinated approach involving regulatory measures, inspections and education.
MCST said Wednesday it will sign a "Business Agreement for Improving Casino Workers' Working Conditions" at Samda Hall in the Jeju Provincial Government building, together with Jeju Province, the Korea Casino Tourism Association and the Tourism and Leisure Industry Labor Union under the Korean Federation of Service Workers' Unions.
The agreement was pursued to reduce the physical and mental harm suffered by casino workers from patron verbal abuse and smoking, and to establish a field-centered response system. South Korea has approximately 9,000 casino workers, and the need to improve their working conditions has been raised continuously.
Under the agreement, each organization's role will be specified. MCST will develop policy initiatives, conduct fact-finding surveys and carry out research to devise institutional improvements for working conditions. Jeju Province will strengthen regular and ad hoc inspections of casino venues within the province to enhance on-site management.
Industry and labor groups will also share responsibilities. The association will improve service culture by expanding worker training programs and encouraging operators' voluntary improvements. The labor union will support the protection of workers' rights and help build a human rights-centered work environment.
The government plans to use the agreement as a foundation for building a permanent cooperation structure rather than one-off responses. It envisions developing standardized guidelines and expanding field-level policies to enhance overall trust in the casino industry.