Gwangsan District Council of Gwangju Passes Ordinance on 'Protection and Support for Essential Workers'

Representative Proposal by Assemblyman Guk Kang-hyun

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangsan District Council of Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 21st that the ordinance on 'Protection and Support for Essential Workers,' proposed by Guk Ganghyun, a council member of Gwangsan District, passed the review of the Industry and City Committee at the 259th extraordinary session.

Essential workers refer to employees engaged in occupations where labor continuity must be maintained to ensure the basic livelihood and safety of the people even in disaster situations.

The ordinance specifies that Gwangsan District may designate essential industries considering disaster situations and characteristics, the maintenance of the local community, and the necessity of stabilizing residents' lives, and may establish a basic plan for the protection and support of essential workers and conduct surveys for this purpose.

It also allows the formation of an Essential Workers Support Committee to decide on the promotion of projects related to essential workers and matters necessary for their protection and support.

Council member Guk said, "Many essential workers such as caregivers, childcare teachers, and delivery workers worked in medical care, caregiving, logistics, and transportation sectors exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection," and added, "Local governments must step up to protect and support essential workers who work hard to maintain the functions of our society during disaster situations so that they can work safely."