Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Act on Work-Study Combination at Industrial Sites and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.
Article 2(Formulation of implementation plans for work-study combination) #
(1) If the Minister of Employment and Labor intends to formulate an implementation plan for work-study combination pursuant to Article 6 (1) of the Act on Work-Study Combination at Industrial Sites (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), the Minister of Employment and Labor shall solicit opinions from relevant institutions and organizations, such as labor organizations, business owners' organizations, a consultative body on human resources development for each industry under Article 12 (2) of the Industrial Development Act (hereinafter referred to as the "consultative body on human resources development").
(2) The Minister of Employment and Labor may request data necessary for formulating an implementation plan for work-study combination under Article 6 (1) of the Act from the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, local governments, and public institutions under Article 4 of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions (hereinafter referred to as "public institutions").
Article 3(Scope and method of fact-finding surveys) #
(1) A fact-finding survey under Article 6 (3) of the Act (hereafter in this Article referred to as "fact-finding survey") shall include the following matters:
1. Current status of participating companies and the implementation of work-study combinations;
2. Joint training centers for work-study combination under Article 16 (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "joint training centers for work-study combination");
3. Current status and competency enhancement of corporate on-site trainers;
4. Employment security and treatment of participating employees;
5. Evaluation of participating employees and work-study combination certifications;
6. Other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Employment and Labor for formulating policies on work-study combination.
(2) A fact-finding survey may be conducted by means of questionnaires, on-site surveys, telephone interviews, or via information and communications networks, etc.
(3) The Minister of Employment and Labor may request public institutions or relevant research institutes or organizations with expertise in work-study combination to, among other things, conduct professional research and analysis as part of the fact-finding survey.
Article 4(Promotion of work-study combination by region) #
(1) To promote work-study combination and achieve the purposes at the regional level in accordance with Article 8 (2) of the Act, the Minister of Employment and Labor shall require regional human resource development committees under Article 22-2 of the National Lifelong Vocational Skills Development Act, consultative bodies on human resources development, and regional organizations by industry to participate in the following affairs: <Amended 2022. 2. 17.>
1. Increased participation in work-study combination by companies in a region;
2. Support for the development of tailored work-study programs under Article 15 (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "work-study programs") that align with the industrial characteristics of the region.
(2) An institution or an organization that serves as a regional hub for work-study combination may provide administrative support to joint training centers for work-study combination and conduct public awareness campaigns to promote work-study combination and achieve the purposes at the regional level in accordance with Article 8 (2) of the Act.
Article 5(Investigations and research related to work-study combination) #
"Relevant specialized institution or organization as prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 10 (2) of the Act means any of the following specialized institutions or organizations:
1. Human Resources Development Service of Korea established pursuant to the Human Resources Development Service of Korea Act (hereinafter referred to as "the Service");
2. Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training or Korea Labor Institute established pursuant to the Act on the Establishment, Operation and Fostering of Government-Funded Research Institutes;
3. Other specialized institutions or organizations with expertise in work-study combination, as determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Employment and Labor.
Article 6(Development of types of occupation for work-study combination and entrustment of affairs) #
(1) If the Minister of Employment and Labor intends to develop types of occupation suitable for work-study combinations (hereinafter referred to as "types of occupation for work-study combination") and education and training standards for each relevant type of occupation (hereinafter referred to as "education and training standards") pursuant to Article 11 (1) of the Act, he or she shall examine the following matters:
1. Necessity for types of occupation for work-study combination and work-study combination certification;
2. Job content, scope, and difficulty level, of types of occupation for work-study combination;
3. Appropriateness of the details of work-study combination;
4. Existence and operational status of certifications similar to the work-study combination certification;
5. Other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Employment and Labor in relation to matters under subparagraphs 1 through 4.
(2) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall publicly notify the types of occupations for work-study combination as well as education and training standards developed pursuant to Article 11 (1) of the Act.
(3) Affairs entrusted by the Minister of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 11 (4) of the Act shall be as follows:
1. Development and enhancement of types of occupations for work-study combination;
2. Development and enhancement of education and training standards;
3. Other affairs related to those under subparagraphs 1 and 2.
Article 7(Methods and procedures for designation of participating companies) #
(1) An entity seeking to be designated as a participating company shall submit an application for such designation prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor to the Minister of Employment and Labor when applying for designation pursuant to Article 13 (2) of the Act.
(2) Upon receiving an application under paragraph (1), the Minister of Employment and Labor may conduct an on-site examination, etc., if necessary to verify whether the applicant meets the requirements for designation under Article 13 (2) 1 of the Act, and verify whether the applicant meets the facilities and equipment requirements under subparagraph 2 of that paragraph through an on-site examination.
Article 8(Requirements for designation as participating companies) #
(1) "Management standards prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 13 (2) 1 of the Act means the following standards: <Amended on Feb. 17, 2022>
1. The company shall not be operated by a business owner currently listed as having delayed payment of wages pursuant to Article 43-2 of the Labor Standards Act;
2. The company shall not have a workplace (limited to those where less than 1 year has passed since the publication date) associated with the published details of the number of industrial accidents, etc. pursuant to Article 10 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act;
3. The company shall not be within the restricted recognition period under Article 24 (3) of the National Lifelong Vocational Skills Development Act;
4. The company shall be a policyholder of employment insurance under Article 9 of the Employment Insurance Act and Article 5 of the Act on the Collection of Insurance Premiums for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance;
5. The company shall have regular employees, the number of which shall be at least that publicly notified by the Minister of Employment and Labor considering the entrustment of training programs outside the workplace under subparagraph 1 (b) of Article 3 of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "training program outside the workplace"), types of occupation for work-study combination, characteristics of participating employees, etc.;
6. The corporate credit rating assigned to the company by the credit information company pursuant to subparagraph 5 of Article 2 of the Credit Information Use and Protection Act shall be higher than that determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Employment and Labor (only if such credit rating exists).
(2) The standards for human resources that an entity seeking designation as a participating company shall meet pursuant to Article 13 (2) 2 of the Act shall be as follows; provided, where a plan for securing human resources under the following subparagraphs has been formulated at the time of filing an application for designation under Article 13 (2) of the Act, he or she shall be deemed to have the required human resources under the following subparagraphs until obtaining accreditation for work-study programs under Article 15 (2) of the Act:
1. The entity shall have at least 1 corporate on-site trainer related to the work-study program;
2. The entity shall have at least 1 person in charge of the work-study program.
Article 9(Designation and operation of corporate on-site trainers) #
(1) "Person who meets the requirements prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 19 (1) of the Act means a person who falls under any of the following: <Amended on Feb. 17, 2022>
1. A person who has graduated from a curriculum in a field related to work-study programs at a school defined in Article 2 of the Higher Education Act or a person with at least 1 year's education and training experience in the relevant field after obtaining recognition of an equivalent or higher academic background;
2. A person with more than 1 year's research experience in a field related to work-study programs at any of the following institutions:
(a) Government-funded research institutes under the Act on the Establishment, Operation and Fostering of Government-Funded Research Institutes;
(b) Government-funded science and technology research institutes under the Act on the Establishment, Operation and Fostering of Government-Funded Science and Technology Research Institutes;
(c) Business-affiliated research institutes under the Basic Research Promotion and Technology Development Support Act;
3. A vocational skills development teacher involved in work-study programs under Article 33 of the National Lifelong Vocational Skills Development Act;
4. A person with over 1 year's work experience in the same field after obtaining a work-study combination certification under Article 31 of the Act;
5. A person with over 1 year's work experience in the same field after acquiring a national technical qualification under the National Technical Qualifications Act or any other qualifications managed and operated by the State pursuant to other statutes;
6. A person with over 3 years' work experience in a field related to work-study programs.
(2) "Education prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 19 (3) of the Act means education conducted by the Minister of Employment and Labor (for a period of time not less than that determined by the Minister of Employment and Labor) that includes the following:
1. General information regarding work-study combination;
2. Development of work-study programs;
3. Implementation and evaluation methods of on-site apprenticeship training programs under item (a) of Article 3 (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "on-site apprenticeship training program");
Article 10(Competency enhancement of corporate on-site trainers) #
(1) In addition to the education under Article 19 (3) of the Act, the Minister of Employment and Labor may provide further educational opportunities for work-study combinations to corporate on-site trainers to enhance their competency pursuant to Article 20 (1) of the Act.
(2) Pursuant to Article 20 (1) of the Act, the Minister of Employment and Labor may classify and manage grades of corporate on-site trainers based on their abilities and experience to develop their capabilities.
(3) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall determine and publicly notify necessary matters for the classification, management, etc. of grades of corporate on-site trainers under paragraph (2).
Article 11(Grounds for termination of work-study agreement) #
"Good cause prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 23 (1) of the Act means any of the following cases:
1. Where a participating employee has been negligent in participating in on-site training programs and training programs outside the workplace, in violation of Article 26 (2) of the Act, significantly impeding the ability of the owner of the participating company to continue to implement work-study combinations;
2. Where it becomes significantly difficult for a participating employee to continue participating in work-study combinations due to a physical or mental disability;
3. Where a participating employee voluntarily withdraws from participating in work-study combinations;
4. In other cases, where in light of social norms, the work-study agreement cannot be continued due to serious reasons attributable to a participating employee.
Article 12(Compliance required by participating companies) #
No owner of a participating company shall conduct an internal assessment under Article 30 (2) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "internal assessment") by fraud or other improper means pursuant to Article 25 (7) of the Act.
Article 13(Calculation of hours of work-study combination) #
(1) "Hours of training programs outside the workplace prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso of Article 27 (1) of the Act means any of the following training hours: <Amended on Feb. 17, 2022>
1. Hours of training conducted as part of the school curriculum for students enrolled in schools falling under any of the following items, among the hours of training programs outside the workplace:
(a) High schools and high technical schools under subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
(b) Schools under Article 2 of the Higher Education Act;
(c) Polytechnic colleges defined in subparagraph 5 of Article 2 of the National Lifelong Vocational Skills Development Act.
2. Hours of training provided within agreed departments or faculties established and operated by the head of an industrial educational institution pursuant to Article 8 (2) of the Industrial Education Enhancement and Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Promotion Act for employees of participating companies during hours of training programs outside the workplace;
3. Training hours for employees of participating companies provided by a joint training center for work-study combination, among hours of training programs outside the workplace.
(2) "As prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso of Article 27 (2) of the Act means where the owner of a participating company and a participating employee agree in writing to conduct an on-site apprenticeship training program during nighttime or holidays due to the characteristics of duties of participating employees, such as under a flexible work hours system under Article 51 of the Labor Standards Act. In such cases, if the participating employee is pregnant or under 18 years old, authorization shall be obtained from the Minister of Employment and Labor for conducting an on-site apprenticeship training program during nighttime or holidays pursuant to the proviso, with the exception of the subparagraphs, of Article 70 (2) of that Act.
Article 14(Internal assessment) #
(1) The owner of a participating company shall incorporate matters regarding the methods, procedures, and timing of internal assessment into the work-study program to be accredited by the Minister of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 15(2) of the Act to assess participating employees in accordance with Article 30 (1) and (2) of the Act.
(2) Pursuant to Article 30 (2) of the Act, the owner of a participating company (referring to the head of the entrusted facility or institution, where such owner entrusts training programs outside the workplace) shall conduct an internal assessment of the units specified in the National Competency Standards under Article 5 of the Framework Act on Qualifications (hereinafter referred to as "competency unit") to measure the job capabilities related to the relevant work-study program, in compliance with the methods, procedures, and timing of the internal assessment incorporated in the work-study program pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) The internal assessment shall be conducted at the participating company where the participating employee received a work-study program or at an entrusted facility or institution under paragraph 2 (limited to cases where training programs outside the workplace are entrusted).
(4) A participating employee who passes an internal assessment shall have a ratio of competency units that pass the internal assessment to the total competency units subject to internal assessment under paragraph (2) of at least 70/100.
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), matters necessary for internal assessment, such as the subject of internal assessment, shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Employment and Labor.
Article 15(External assessment) #
(1) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall formulate an implementation plan for external assessment under Article 30 (2) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "external assessment") by December 31 of the preceding year to evaluate participating employees pursuant to Article 30 (1) and (2) of the Act, and shall publicly announce such plan on the website determined by the Minister of Employment and Labor.
(2) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall incorporate matters regarding the methods, etc. of external assessment, such as written examinations and practical examinations, into the education and training standards.
(3) Participating employees subject to external assessment are those who have passed the internal assessment and have completed at least 80/100 of on-site apprenticeship training program hours plus hours for the training program outside the workplace.
(4) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall conduct an external assessment of competency units specified in the education and training standards pursuant to Article 30 (2) of the Act, and shall follow the external assessment methods incorporated in the education and training standards pursuant to paragraph (2).
(5) The assessment committee under Article 30 (3) of the Act shall consist of up to 5 people, including corporate on-site trainers and experts in related fields, appointed by the Minister of Employment and Labor.
(6) Those who have passed an external assessment shall be participating employees whose ratio of competency units that pass the assessment by competency unit to those subject to external assessment under paragraph (4) is at least 70/100.
(7) If successful applicants are determined pursuant to Article 30 (4) of the Act, the Minister of Employment and Labor shall publicly announce their examination numbers on the website under paragraph (1).
(8) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (7), matters necessary for external assessment, such as the application period for external assessment and the operation of the assessment committee, shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Employment and Labor.
Article 16(Support for work-study combination and restitution of subsidies received) #
(1) When intending to provide support under Article 34 (1) of the Act, the Minister of Employment and Labor shall provide subsidies to the owners of participating companies pursuant to Article 41 (2) 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act, and to joint training centers for work-study combination pursuant to Article 52 of that Enforcement Decree.
(2) If a person who has received support under Article 34 (1) or (2) of the Act is found to have obtained such support by fraud or other improper means in accordance with Article 34 (3) of the Act, the State, a local government, or the Minister of Employment and Labor shall order the return of the equivalent amount, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. <Amended on Jun. 2, 2025>
(3) The standards for additional collection of any amount received by fraud or other improper means (hereinafter referred to as "fraudulently-received amount") under Article 34 (4) of the Act shall be as follows: <Amended on Jun. 2, 2025>
1. Where a person subject to a reimbursement order under paragraph (2) has, over the last 5 years as of the date on which the relevant violation was discovered, received or applied for such support under Article 34 (1) or (2) of the Act by fraud or other improper means fewer than 3 times (hereinafter referred to as the “number of fraudulent support cases”): An additional amount equivalent to the fraudulently-received amount shall be collected; provided, if the number of fraudulent support cases includes any case involving collusion (referring to cases where the recipient or applicant conspired with the owner of a participating company, an institution or organization, etc. delivering training programs outside the workplace, a person entrusted with the functions pertaining to work-study combination, including a consultative body on human resources development and a joint training center for work-study combination, etc., an institution or organization providing support to participating companies, or a participating employee; hereafter in this paragraph the same shall apply), 3 times the fraudulent-received amount shall be collected;
2. Where the number of fraudulent support cases is 3 or 4 times: Twice the fraudulently-received amount shall be collected; provided, if the number of fraudulent support cases includes any case involving collusion, 4 times the fraudulent-received amount shall be collected;
3. Where the number of fraudulent support cases is at least 5 times: Three times the fraudulently-received amount shall be collected; provided, if the number of fraudulent support cases includes any case involving collision, 5 times the fraudulent-received amount shall be collected;
Article 17(Delegation or entrustment of authority) #
(1) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall delegate the following authority to the head of a regional employment and labor office pursuant to Article 39 (1) of the Act:
1. Designation of participating companies under Article 13 of the Act;
2. Issuance of corrective orders, revocation of designation orders, and orders to suspend the operation of work-study combinations for participating companies under Article 14 (1) of the Act;
3. Issuance of corrective orders, orders to revoke accreditation, and orders to suspend the operation of the work-study program under Article 15 (3) of the Act;
4. Revocation of work-study combination certification under Article 33 of the Act;
5. Restitution, additional collection, and compulsory collection of subsidies under Article 34 (3) through (5) of the Act;
6. Guidance and inspection under Article 36 of the Act;
7. Hearings under Article 38 of the Act (excluding subparagraph 3);
8. Imposition and collection of administrative fines under Article 42 of the Act.
(2) The Minister of Employment and Labor shall entrust the following affairs to the Service pursuant to Article 39 (2) of the Act:
1. Fact-finding surveys on work-study combination under Article 6 (3) of the Act;
2. Development of types of occupation for work-study combination and education and training standards under Article 11 of the Act;
3. Pilot projects under Article 12 of the Act;
4. Receipt of applications for designation as a participating company, on-site examination, and review of whether the requirements for designation as a participating company are met under Article 13 of the Act and Articles 7 and 8 of this Decree;
5. Service of designation, accreditation, corrective orders, suspension orders, and revocation under Articles 13, 14 (1), 15 (2) and (3), 16, and 18 of the Act;
6. Receipt of applications for work-study program accreditation and examination of whether the program meets the education and training standards under Article 15 (2) of the Act;
7. Receipt of applications for designation as a joint training center for work-study combination under Article 16 of the Act and examination of whether the requirements for such designation are met;
Article 18(Processing of personally identifiable information) #
The Minister of Employment and Labor (including persons delegated or entrusted with the authority or duties of the Minister of Employment and Labor pursuant to Article 17) may process data containing resident registration numbers or alien registration numbers under subparagraph 1 or 4 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act, if it is unavoidable to perform the following affairs:
1. Establishment of a system for linking participating companies and job seekers under Article 9 of the Act;
2. Designation, operation, and competency enhancement of corporate on-site trainers under Articles 19 and 20 of the Act;
3. Evaluation of participating employees under Article 30 of the Act;
4. Acquisition and management of work-study combination certifications, the issuance and re-issuance of work-study combination certificates, and the establishment and operation of related computer systems under Article 31 of the Act.
5. Revocation of work-study combination certifications under Article 33 of the Act;
6. Restitution and additional collection of subsidies and fraudulently-received amount under Article 34 of the Act;
7. Guidance and inspection under Article 36 of the Act.
Article 19(Criteria for imposition of administrative fines) #
The criteria for imposing administrative fines under Article 42 of the Act shall be as listed in the Appendix.