[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government has decided to extend the employment retention subsidy period by 90 days for 15 industries, including the aviation sector, as it anticipates that the employment crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will last for a long time.
On the 3rd, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held the '5th Employment Policy Council of 2021' and reviewed and approved a plan to extend the paid employment retention subsidy period for 15 special employment support industries, including aviation, from 180 days to 270 days.
Employers in shipbuilding, travel, tourism accommodation, tourism transportation, performance, aircraft handling, duty-free shops, exhibitions and international conferences, airport buses, film, training facilities, amusement facilities, foreigner-only casinos, aircraft parts manufacturing, and route bus industries will be able to receive paid leave and suspension support payments for up to 270 days.
The government decided to allocate additional funds inevitably, as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe business damage and employment instability in these industries, and it is expected to take considerable time for recovery.
As a result, companies that have received paid subsidies without interruption since January 1 will be able to receive support until the end of September. They will continue to receive 90% of the suspension allowance, which is about 70% of the average wage, from the government.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor expects the so-called 'jobless growth' to continue for a long time. While the business damage and employment instability caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic have been severe so far, it is judged that it will take considerable time to recover in the future.
Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-duk said, "I hope the decision to extend the employment retention subsidy period by 90 days for special employment support industries, which have been severely affected by COVID-19, will contribute to stabilizing the employment of workers in crisis."
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