SMEs "Additional Designation of Special Employment Support Sectors Needed"... Election Tasks Delivered to Deobureo Citizen Party

Kim Ki-moon, President of the Korea Federation of SMEs (sixth from the left), representatives of the small and medium business sector, and the Co-Chairman of the Democratic Citizens' Party held a commemorative photo at the 21st General Election Policy Task Presentation Ceremony held on the 2nd at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daeseop] The Korea Federation of SMEs announced on the 2nd that it delivered policy tasks for the 21st general election to the Deobureo Civic Party and held a meeting to overcome the crisis caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The meeting was held at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul. Seven representatives from the SME sector attended, including Kim Gi-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, Kwon Hyuk-hong, Chairman of the Korea Paper Industry Cooperative, and Na Dong-myeong, Chairman of the Korea Exhibition and Event Industry Cooperative. From the Deobureo Civic Party, permanent co-chairpersons Woo Hee-jong, Choi Bae-geun, and Lee Jong-geol attended.

The Korea Federation of SMEs delivered a policy task book containing 261 policy proposals across nine sectors. They emphasized that key tasks such as ▲creating a fair economic ecosystem between large and small-medium enterprises ▲establishing supplementary systems for minimum wage and working hours reduction ▲policy consideration for SME cooperatives must be resolved in the 21st National Assembly.

To overcome the COVID-19 crisis, the Korea Federation of SMEs requested additional support including ▲expanding large corporations' participation in the Good Landlord Movement ▲expanding employment retention subsidies and designating additional special employment support industries ▲raising the public institutions' purchase target ratio for SME products (from 75% to 85%) and early ordering.

Chairman Kim Gi-moon said, "The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic is causing a greater shock to our economy, and this is truly an unprecedented emergency economic situation."

Chairman Kim added, "Despite the difficult domestic and international economic environment including COVID-19, we created the general election task book reflecting the vivid voices from SMEs continuing their management. Since candidates representing SMEs are included in the proportional representation list, I hope many good policies for SMEs will be reflected in the 21st National Assembly."