Jongno-gu Supports Essential Workers Performing Essential Tasks Amid Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic

Request for Cost Estimation to Specialized Agency, Wage Realization for Drivers and Public Officials (Sanitation Workers) of Delegated Companies... Acquisition of Long-Term Vacant Buildings to Provide Comfortable Rest Areas

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Even in situations like COVID-19, the issue of supporting ‘essential workers’ who perform critical tasks in fields such as healthcare, caregiving, delivery and courier services, public transportation, and environmental sanitation to maintain public life, safety, and social functions is emerging as a social concern.

While the government is considering measures to protect essential workers, Jongno-gu (District Mayor Kim Young-jong) is gaining attention for actively leading efforts to provide support for public workers (environmental sanitation workers) and create an environment where their labor value is respected.

One example is the early adjustment of wages for contracted drivers and public workers (environmental sanitation workers). Last year, before signing contracts with three district waste collection and transportation contractors, the district commissioned an external expert agency to calculate costs, resulting in a wage increase effect for contracted drivers and environmental public workers who had been receiving low wages.

Mr. G, a public worker at the third district contractor in Jongno-gu, said, “We work from evening until dawn collecting volume-based waste bags, food waste, and recyclables sorted by type, but compared to the working hours and intensity, the wages were relatively low, and wages were at average levels every year. However, after Jongno-gu conducted cost calculation last year and signed a new contract with the company, our actual wages increased,” expressing his happiness.

Furthermore, Jongno-gu is continuously striving to improve rest areas for both directly managed and contracted workers.

To resolve the inconveniences faced by directly managed public workers due to aging facilities and overcrowding, the district decided to purchase the former Hyoje Police Substation building, a long-vacant national property, after ongoing consultations with the Korea Asset Management Corporation, and carried out extensive remodeling.

The existing rest area in Myeongnyun 1-ga was located near a residential area, causing many noise complaints from residents due to the nature of early morning work, and the usage area was only about 1.5㎡ per person, making it cramped and inadequate as a rest space.

However, the newly purchased building is located in the center of Chungshin-dong, expected to prevent noise complaints from residential areas and improve accessibility to the work zones.

Also, the 26 public workers who previously shared one space will be distributed into two rest areas, increasing the density from 1.5㎡ per person to 4.1㎡ per person, significantly improving the environment.

The rest area, reborn as a comfortable space prioritizing workers, is scheduled to be occupied this spring.

District Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “Along with wage increases for public workers, we aim to actively protect essential workers working in our district by promoting rest area improvement projects,” adding, “We will strive to ensure that the labor value of essential workers, who perform tasks vital to public life and safety, is respected, and actively implement policy foundations and support measures for them.”