Ministry of Employment: "Projects Implemented by 17 Local Governments from Early This Month"
234.6 Billion Won Invested from National and Local Budgets...267,000 Beneficiaries
Providing Short-Term Jobs for Vulnerable Groups and Support for Vocational Trainees
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Starting this month, the government will provide support payments of up to 1 million KRW to unpaid leave workers, special-type workers (teukgo), and freelancers. The main target is low-income vulnerable groups affected by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It is expected that a total of about 267,000 people will benefit from this project, which is worth 234.6 billion KRW.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 1st that it will launch the "Regional Employment Response Special Support Project" to support unpaid leave workers, teukgo, freelancers, and others in cooperation with 17 local governments.
This project will invest a total of 234.6 billion KRW, including 200 billion KRW of national funds secured through the supplementary budget and 34.6 billion KRW of local funds. Daegu and Gyeongbuk, designated as special disaster areas, were allocated 37 billion KRW and 33 billion KRW respectively, and the remaining 15 local governments were allocated between 3 billion and 15 billion KRW.
First, a total of 93.4 billion KRW will be invested in employment stability support for unpaid leave workers, benefiting about 118,000 people. This project provides employment stability support payments of up to 500,000 KRW per month for two months through local governments. The support targets workers who ▲ have been on unpaid leave for five days or more after the national infectious disease crisis alert was raised to the "serious" level (February 23) ▲ at workplaces below a certain scale where operations were suspended due to COVID-19.
Support requirements may vary by local government, but in principle, workplaces prioritize small businesses, and workers prioritize low-income individuals. In Incheon, industries related to water transport and air transport are prioritized, and in Jeju, industries facing difficulties such as travel and tourism accommodation are prioritized.
When the employer submits the unpaid leave worker support application and unpaid leave confirmation to the local government, the support payment is directly paid to the worker after eligibility screening. Individual applications by workers are also possible.
Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor is delivering a greeting at the "Meeting between the Minister of Employment and Labor and Small Business Owners for COVID-19 Response" held on the 5th at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Special-type workers and freelancers will also receive living stabilization support payments of up to 500,000 KRW per month for two months. A budget of 107.3 billion KRW will be invested, benefiting about 142,000 people. Support will be provided if face-to-face services are difficult due to the spread of COVID-19, resulting in job loss or income reduction. Payments will be made if ▲ jobs were lost for five days or more or ▲ income decreased by 25% or more since the 23rd of last month.
Applicants should submit an application form along with documents such as service contracts, appointment documents, income certificates, and documents verifying non-provision of labor (income reduction) to the local government.
In addition, short-term jobs will be provided to vulnerable groups such as teukgo, freelancers, and daily workers. This will be implemented in nine local governments including Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, Sejong, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam. The project provides short-term jobs urgently needed according to local demand, such as workplace disinfection and traditional market delivery. Participants will receive wages of about 1.8 million KRW per month per person. With a budget of 33.7 billion KRW, about 6,000 people will be supported.
In Ulsan, Sejong, Chungnam, and Jeonnam, a monthly amount equivalent to the training allowance (120,000 KRW per month for two months) will be paid to trainees who cannot receive training allowances due to the suspension of vocational training caused by COVID-19. A budget of 270 million KRW will be invested to support 1,000 vocational trainees.
Minister of Employment Lee Jae-gap said, "I hope those in the blind spots of the employment safety net can overcome employment instability and income reduction caused by COVID-19," and added, "We will faithfully carry out the project with local governments to ensure that support is properly and promptly provided where it is truly needed."
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