Gyeonggi-do Promotes 'Stepping Stone Job Project' to Overcome COVID-19

[Asia Economy (Uijeongbu) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is recruiting job seekers to participate in this year's 'Gyeonggi Stepping Stone Job Project' until the 22nd. The number of job seekers targeted includes 9 people from public institutions such as Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority and 62 people from social economy enterprises such as Green Bio Co., Ltd., totaling 71 people.

The Gyeonggi Stepping Stone Job Project has been promoted since last year by Gyeonggi Province to help residents gain experience in the public and public interest sectors, cultivate job competencies, and connect them to private sector employment.

Eligibility for application includes residents with a standard median income of 100% or less, or those in vulnerable employment groups (long-term unemployed for more than 6 months, persons with disabilities, etc.). Additionally, special employment workers and freelancers who lost their jobs or businesses due to COVID-19 or whose income has sharply declined can also participate.

Participants will be assigned to workplaces starting next month and will work for up to 10 months at the respective companies to build job skills and experience. During the participation period, they can take customized employment training and job-specific educational curriculums.

The wage is set at the Gyeonggi Province living wage level this year, which is 10,364 KRW per hour. Certification exam fees and employment competency enhancement training fees are also supported up to a maximum of 400,000 KRW per individual.

Furthermore, by utilizing 'Stepping Stone Managers' qualified as employment counselors, participants receive career counseling, employment coaching, and timely job information.

Kim Gyu-sik, Director of Economic Planning at the province, emphasized, "We will do our best to support this project to serve as a stepping stone to good jobs for many residents facing employment crises due to COVID-19."

Residents wishing to participate can apply through the Gyeonggi Job Foundation recruitment website (gjfin.saramin.co.kr) from the 13th to the 22nd of this month. For more details, contact the Gyeonggi Job Foundation at 031-270-9700.