Jeonju City Launches Support Program for Youth Workplaces and Unemployed Youth: "Don't Lose Courage~"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Gominhyeong] Jeonju City has decided to provide wages to youth-run businesses struggling due to COVID-19 and offer part-time jobs and support funds to unemployed youth to help stabilize their livelihoods.

The city announced that it will accept applications for the ‘Youth Business Part-time Workforce Support Project’ and the ‘Youth Unemployed Vital Support Fund Project’ by the 10th and 14th of this month, respectively, to assist young people facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19.

The Youth Business Part-time Workforce Support Project aims to alleviate the management burden of youth-run businesses facing difficulties such as decreased sales and to promote new employment for unemployed youth by providing wages to about 97 businesses led by youth aged 18 to 39.

The eligible businesses must have their business address in Jeonju City and employ fewer than five workers. When hiring a part-time youth worker, the business will receive up to 2 million KRW per month (including a 20% business contribution) in wages for four months. However, newly hired youth must work at least 15 hours per week for a minimum of four months and be enrolled in employment insurance.

Additionally, to support the livelihood stabilization and social reintegration of youth who lost jobs in part-time, short-term, daily, or temporary work due to the COVID-19 impact, the city will provide the Vital Support Fund to 280 youth aged 18 to 39.

The eligible recipients are youth registered as residents in Jeonju City as of the 25th of last month, who have been unemployed for more than one month since January 20, the date of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Korea. They will receive 500,000 KRW per month for three months, up to a maximum of 1.5 million KRW, via prepaid cards.

The prepaid cards can only be used within Jeollabuk-do Province until the end of the year to help revitalize the local economy.

However, those currently enrolled in high school or receiving livelihood benefits, unemployment benefits, or job-seeking activity support funds from the Ministry of Employment and Labor are excluded.

Kim Byung-su, Director of the New Growth Economy Bureau of Jeonju City, said, “As the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 prolongs, we hope this will greatly help local youth facing employment crises prepare for their future.”