The weather has been very hot lately. It truly feels like summer has arrived.

Concerns are being raised that housekeepers working in private homes are also being exposed to the dangers of extreme heat.

The Care and Housekeeping Service Branch of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions held a press conference yesterday (June 24) to urge the implementation of practical measures to protect workers in the "Seoul-style" housekeeping service from extreme heat.

Housekeepers participating in the Seoul-style housekeeping service typically spend about three hours per household performing tasks such as cleaning and organizing.

They expressed their grievances, stating, "We work without breaks, but there are many cases where clients refuse to turn on the air conditioning even when it is available, or demand that we keep the doors closed while cleaning." They added, "We often have to work while walking on eggshells in an atmosphere where we are not even offered a glass of water."

The Seoul-style housekeeping service is a program introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2023 as part of its measures to address low birth rates.

While the program is credited with reducing the domestic burden on pregnant women, dual-income households, and families with multiple children, and improving childcare conditions, the union argues that the working environment for the housekeepers themselves has not improved accordingly.