Mapo-gu Provides 'Employment Retention Support Fund' for Unpaid Leave Workers in Businesses with Fewer Than 5 Employees

Support for Leave Allowance of 25,000 KRW per Day, up to 500,000 KRW per Month for 2 Months... One Person per Small Business, up to Two for Tourism Businesses Severely Affected

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) is launching the ‘Seoul-type Employment Retention Support Fund’ project from the 1st, which provides unpaid leave allowances of 25,000 KRW per day and up to 500,000 KRW per month for two months to unpaid leave workers at small business establishments with fewer than five employees.

The Seoul-type Employment Retention Support Fund is a system designed to support unpaid leave for workers at small business establishments who find long-term leave difficult, as part of the government’s employment retention support measures in response to the spread of COVID-19.

The support targets workers employed at small business establishments with fewer than five employees located in Mapo-gu who are enrolled in employment insurance and have taken unpaid leave for five days or more since February 23, when COVID-19 was elevated to the ‘serious’ stage.

One person per business establishment is eligible for support, but tourism businesses that have been directly and severely affected can receive support for up to two people.

The detailed supported industries include tourism, wholesale and retail, lodging and restaurants?industries severely impacted by COVID-19?as well as technology startup companies struggling due to the overall economic downturn.

The district secured 1,599 million KRW (60% city funds, 40% national funds) for this support.

Applications will be accepted starting April 1, and unpaid leave allowances of 25,000 KRW per day and up to 500,000 KRW per month will be provided for two months.

Applications can be submitted from April 1 by business owners or workers of small business establishments by visiting the Mapo-gu Job Support Division, or via email (mapo14@mapo.go.kr), registered mail, or fax (☎3153-8599).

The district plans to offer a service where public officials will visit in person to receive applications from small business owners facing difficulties.

The support fund will be paid to eligible workers after reviewing applications for unpaid leave allowances submitted by the 10th of each month for the previous month. For April only, applications for unpaid leave support from February 23 to March 31 can be submitted.

Applicants must submit supporting documents such as business registration certificates, small business confirmation certificates, and employment insurance enrollment certificates along with the application form (including unpaid leave confirmation) to verify eligibility and prevent duplicate or fraudulent claims. The application form can be downloaded from the notices section on the Mapo-gu website.

As of 2018, there are a total of 11,593 small business establishments with fewer than five employees (excluding one-person small businesses) in Mapo-gu, including 736 tourism businesses, 2,151 technology startups, and 8,706 other industries.

Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun of Mapo-gu said, “This employment retention support fund is intended to stabilize employment at businesses struggling due to COVID-19 and to sustain workers’ livelihoods, aiming to maintain at least a minimal business foundation until the crisis subsides. We hope for active interest and participation from small business owners and workers.”

For further inquiries, please contact the Mapo-gu Job Support Division.