South Korea will strengthen work environment monitoring amid a series of scandals over local firms' demeaning treatment of their employees, the labor minister said Monday.

"If companies debased their employees, such practices must be corrected," Labor Minister Lee Ki-kweon told reporters, referring to recent news reports on local firms' misconduct. 

Doosan Corporation Mottrol, a hydraulic components manufacturer affiliated with Doosan Group, has been at the center of controversy because its management gave one of its employees, who declined to retire voluntarily, a seat facing a file cabinet and gave him nothing do during office hours.

In a separate case, Lee Hae-wook, the vice president of Daelim Industrial Co., also made an official apology for verbally and physically assaulting his driver on numerous occasions.

The minister said the local labor government office has launched fact-finding probes to figure out the details of the incidents.

"Having a job is the last resort to earn their families' living, thus companies should not forcefully coax their workers to resign," Lee said. "Company executives should treat workers humanely and take a lead in making a favorable work environment."  (Yonhap)