Korean New Deal 'Safety Net Enhancement' First Meeting... What Are the '3 Priority Projects' to Be Promoted?

Minister Lee Jae-gap Chairs 'Safety Net Enhancement Team' Meeting on 14th
Emphasizes Inter-Agency Cooperation... Promotes Integrated Digital Talent Development
Announces 'Employment Insurance Blind Spot Resolution Roadmap' for This Year
"To Introduce Sickness Benefits, Assess On-Site Sick Leave Management Status"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. / Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government is launching inter-ministerial cooperation to promote nationwide employment insurance, sickness benefits introduction, and digital talent development, which are key tasks of the 'Korean New Deal.'

On the morning of the 14th, Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, presided over the first meeting of the 'Safety Net Strengthening Task Force' at the Economic, Social and Labor Council in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Strengthening employment and social safety nets is one of the core strategies of the Korean New Deal.

The Safety Net Strengthening Task Force was formed to manage eight sectors and 51 detailed tasks included in the safety net enhancement measures and to facilitate inter-ministerial collaboration. Eight ministries, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Science and ICT, and Ministry of Environment, are participating.

Minister Lee stated, "We will strengthen the fragile safety net of our economy, confirmed through the COVID-19 crisis, to provide a solid foundation for the digital and green economy," adding, "Through investment in people, we aim to improve the digital adaptability of job seekers and workers and enhance digital accessibility without leaving behind marginalized groups such as the elderly, disabled, and rural residents."

The Safety Net Strengthening Task Force plans to prioritize strengthening inter-ministerial cooperation to promote three major tasks: nationwide employment insurance introduction, education and training for future talent development, and the introduction of sickness benefits.

Minister Lee emphasized, "Strengthening the safety net involves fundamental changes to employment and social safety nets as well as education and training systems," and stressed, "Inter-ministerial cooperation is absolutely necessary."

First, to introduce nationwide employment insurance, the government launched the 'Employment Insurance Blind Spot Resolution Planning Group,' an inter-governmental task force including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and National Tax Service, on the 31st of last month.

The government plans to establish a foundation for the system introduction, such as building an income information sharing system, and announce a 'Roadmap to Resolve Employment Insurance Blind Spots' within this year through inter-ministerial collaboration.

Minister Lee said, "To support the introduction of nationwide employment insurance, we have formed a working-level consultative body within the Safety Net Strengthening Task Force to prepare a linked system for taxable income information." The working-level consultative body will hold frequent discussions chaired by the Director-General of Employment Policy with related ministries.

The second task is to establish an education and training system for future talent development. Minister Lee conveyed, "Discussions on collaborative budgeting are underway to systematically promote digital talent development projects, which have been operated in a fragmented manner, from an integrated perspective."

To enhance digital job competencies, the government plans to redesign a nationwide education and training system, including basic and higher education and vocational training, through inter-ministerial cooperation.

Minister Lee said, "Fourteen ministries, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and ICT, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, will participate to systematize training courses in 21 new technology fields," adding, "We plan to establish a division of labor for talent development at the inter-ministerial level, nurturing practical talents through beginner and intermediate training courses and advanced talents through graduate schools."

Lastly, the introduction of sickness benefits will be pursued. Minister Lee stated, "The introduction of sickness benefits requires organic linkage with related systems," and added, "Alongside research on the introduction of the sickness benefits system, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will also grasp the current status of sick leave operations in workplaces and conduct a more in-depth review of overseas cases."

In the future, the agenda organized by the Safety Net Strengthening Task Force will be submitted to the Korean New Deal Ministerial Meeting or the Korean New Deal Strategy Meeting chaired by the President.