The Korea Elevator Maintenance Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association) held its 2013 Annual General Meeting at Amoris Hall, S Convention and Wedding Hall in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do.

With the Elevator Facility Safety Management Act (hereinafter referred to as the Elevator Safety Act) set to take effect on the 23rd of this month, it is urgent to prepare specific measures for subcontracting elevator maintenance, so about 150 members from all over the country attended the meeting, demonstrating high interest.

At the general meeting, Chairman Seo Gil-soo said, "In the past year, the association has made efforts to represent the position of the maintenance industry in relation to the amendment of the Elevator Act, but the results did not favor our side." "However, we do not think this is the end, and we will overcome difficulties in collaboration with member companies for the development of the industry," he said.

At the general meeting, which began shortly afterward, the director of the association, Jeon Bok-jin, reported on the 2012 promotion work and year-end budget and the audit results, and resolved three items including the 2013 business plan and balance budget.

The association has been protesting against the proposed amendments to the Elevator Act regarding the scope and ratio of subcontracting for elevator maintenance for the past year. According to the data reported by the association, from May 31 to the end of December last year, a total of 4,080 people participated in 31 protests, including national and metropolitan rallies and one-person protests, and a total of 40 press releases were distributed to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Regulatory Reform Commission, media outlets, and related organizations, as well as a petition against the amendment of the Elevator Act and a letter of protest. Currently, the subordinate legislation (Enforcement Decree and Implementing Rules) of the Elevated Platform Act has passed the review of the Regulatory Reform Committee and is under consideration by the legislature. The association plans to continue its protest until the outcome of the amendment is known.

The amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Elevator Act strengthened the subcontracting of maintenance by allowing subcontracting for no more than 50 percent of elevator maintenance and two-thirds of self-inspection work. In addition, the elevator maintenance business must be subdivided into three industries, including high-speed, mid- and low-speed elevators and escalators, and the number of maintenance technicians must be increased from five to eight to strengthen maintenance work.

The biggest reason why the association is sticking to its protest against the proposed amendments to the Elevator Act is that the 50 percent maintenance ratio, which is equivalent to a ban on maintenance subcontracting, is "regulation for regulation's sake. Chairman Seo Gil-soo argued, "No other country in the world regulates the ratio of maintenance work by law, and it ignores the characteristics of elevator maintenance work that cannot be divided." In particular, he sarcastically said, "It is a typical 'tabletop administration' to divide self-inspection, which is the most basic part of maintenance work, into 1/3 and 2/3 ratios. Director Jeon Bok-jin also said, "In fact, the most basic tasks of maintenance work are self-inspection, troubleshooting, and replacement of parts, so I would like to question how it is possible to divide them into a set ratio."

So far, the association has requested specific details on the division of maintenance work from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, but the only answer it received was "a ratio to prevent poor subcontracting of maintenance work." Therefore, the association has gathered three large cooperative organizations, including the Hyunwoo Association, OSEP, and TKEK, through this general meeting, and has begun to prepare a feasible self-solution within the framework of the law regarding the ratio and division of remunerated work.

The realistic alternatives that the association is planning are to sign a technical service contract between the two companies to receive technical fees only for specialized models, to operate the original contractor's agency and direct stores, and to operate in a joint contract format. "We are looking for ways to ensure that manufacturers' sales of maintenance services do not fall and that suppliers can win together," said Jeon Bok-jin, director of the association. "This general meeting is a meaningful occasion to raise the association's position on the proposed amendments to the Boarding and Entry Act and to prepare countermeasures according to the plans of the three partner organizations." Major manufacturers such as Hyundai, Thyssen, and Otis are currently organizing TFT teams internally to prepare responses to the changes, and are considering not only short-term measures but also mid- to long-term measures.

On the other hand, the association plans to respond quickly to changes in internal and external conditions, including expanding the role of the association, establishing a cooperation system, and strengthening the status of the association as its main business plan for 2013. In particular, the association plans to increase the size of the association and establish a regional cooperation system among member companies, such as prioritizing Mitsubishi affiliated suppliers, and to take the lead in revitalizing the association's business by expanding inspection support projects and association revenue projects, while also strengthening its status to fulfill its role as a professional organization for elevator maintenance.