Minister of Employment and Labor: "We will expedite the preparation of related legislation to apply employment insurance to special types of workers"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor is briefing on the COVID-19 livelihood support measures for vulnerable groups at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 30th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, announced that he will expedite the preparation of a revised Employment Insurance Act to apply employment insurance to workers in special employment types (teukso-goyongjik, or teukgo) and submit it to the 21st National Assembly.

In his opening remarks at the 'Employment and Labor Crisis Response Task Force (TF) Meeting' held on the morning of the 1st, Minister Lee said, "The all-around shock of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on domestic demand, exports, and employment threatens jobs, which are the foundation of people's lives. For vulnerable groups outside the employment safety net such as employment insurance, job and income reductions pose an even more direct threat," emphasizing this point.

He added, "Along with temporary emergency support measures to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, we intend to accelerate efforts from June to create opportunities for fundamental changes so that all working citizens can be protected by the employment safety net. We will prepare and submit the revised Employment Insurance Act for applying employment insurance to teukgo occupations, which was not passed in the 20th National Assembly, as soon as possible." Minister Lee further stressed, "Expanding the employment safety net is an effort to firmly secure the last line of defense in our labor market during difficult times, and maintaining employment and protecting jobs will be the top priority task to create opportunities for rapid recovery and leap forward of our economy."

Regarding the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act, scheduled to be submitted to the Cabinet meeting on the 2nd and implemented thereafter, he said, "In addition to the existing employment retention subsidy system, we are preparing rapid support for unpaid leave workers, the establishment of a loan system for employment retention funds, and wage support for workplaces with employment retention agreements. Once the legal amendments and the securing of funds through the third supplementary budget are finalized, we will ensure that support is provided to the necessary workplaces and labor-management parties as quickly as possible."

He also mentioned strengthening quarantine status management for workplaces with high density. He stated, "For 1,750 workplaces with high density such as call centers, IT, meat processing, and electronic product assembly, they will conduct self-inspections using the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s quarantine management guideline checklist and submit the results to the Ministry. Workplaces with insufficient quarantine management will be subject to surprise inspections (around 100 sites) by local employment and labor offices," emphasizing this point.

Regarding the recent spread of infections at logistics centers of distribution companies such as Coupang, he explained, "For logistics facilities, a joint emergency quarantine inspection was first conducted on 20 logistics centers where infection spread occurred, in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, related ministries, and local governments. We plan to continue joint inspections in June for other logistics facilities (30 sites) such as parcel delivery centers." Additionally, he said, "To prevent foreign workers entering from overseas from becoming a link in community infections, entry will only be allowed if the quarantine location (one person per room, etc.) is confirmed to be appropriate at the time of entry. After entry, quarantine rules compliance and symptom monitoring such as fever will be conducted daily to strengthen quarantine management for foreign workers entering from overseas."

Referring to the recent fatal accident at Hyundai Heavy Industries, he said, "It is very regrettable and unfortunate," and added, "To prevent further fatal accidents, the top management must take direct responsibility and express a strong will for effective 'safety management,' and fundamental safety measures must be prepared and implemented." He continued, "Until Hyundai Heavy Industries’ safety management system operates properly, we will conduct intensive close supervision, and those responsible for safety violations found during special inspections, regardless of rank or position, will be strictly punished to raise awareness of safety management."