Gwanak-gu Provides Gift Certificates to Seniors Participating in Senior Job Programs

4-Month Onnuri Gift Certificate Distribution of About 1.26 Billion KRW Planned for 2,253 Senior Job Participants... Approximately 20% Additional Incentive Provided When Part of Monthly Activity Allowance Is Received as Gift Certificates

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) will provide approximately 20% additional incentive gift certificates on top of the monthly activity allowance to 2,253 elderly participants engaged in public interest activities under the senior job program.

This initiative aims to strengthen the spending capacity of seniors who are experiencing economic difficulties due to reduced income caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and to contribute to revitalizing the local economy, which has been subdued.

The gift certificate distribution will be conducted by offering seniors participating in the senior job program an additional incentive of about 20% of their monthly activity allowance if they choose to receive part of their salary in gift certificates.

Those who receive their entire activity allowance in cash get 270,000 KRW per month, whereas those who opt for Onnuri gift certificates will receive 189,000 KRW in cash plus 140,000 KRW in Onnuri gift certificates (81,000 KRW = 30% of salary, 59,000 KRW = incentive), totaling 329,000 KRW.

The district has allocated a total budget of approximately 1.26 billion KRW, including national and city funds, to provide Onnuri gift certificates for four months starting in June to the 2,253 seniors participating in public interest activities who have submitted consent forms to receive gift certificates.

Consent forms for gift certificate receipt are being accepted at local community centers and each executing agency, and Onnuri gift certificates can be collected from each executing agency at the beginning of every month.

Gwanak-gu has sequentially resumed the senior job public interest activity program from May 11, focusing mainly on non-face-to-face or outdoor dispersed projects, which have relatively lower risk of infection, after suspending it to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The district provides economic support and vitality to seniors through a total of 58 senior job projects, including ▲safety guardians on school commuting routes ▲playground happiness guardians ▲lunchbox delivery services.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “We ask each executing agency to actively guide and promote the gift certificate benefits to seniors participating in public interest activities under the senior job program. We hope this will provide some economic support to seniors who are struggling due to reduced income caused by COVID-19.”