'11.4 Million KRW Per Person' Intensive Two-Month Inspection of Youth Digital Job Fraud Cases

2600 Business Sites Under Intensive Inspection... "Preventing Fraudulent Claims, Raising Awareness"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 26th that from the 27th until November 19th, it will conduct a focused inspection on fraudulent claims in the 'Youth Digital Job Project,' which provides support funds of up to 11.4 million KRW per person.

This project supports small and medium-sized enterprises with five or more employees that hire youth in information technology (IT) job fields, providing up to 1.9 million KRW per month for a maximum of six months. Due to the nature of the project, the possibility of fraudulent claims is high, so the Ministry of Employment and Labor decided to operate a focused inspection period in the second half of the year following the first half.

The inspection will target 2,600 locations, about 10% of the approximately 26,000 companies participating in this year's project. During the preparation period from the 27th to the 8th of next month, suspicious workplaces will be selected, followed by on-site inspections from the 11th of next month to November 19th. Suspicious workplaces are chosen from companies reported for fraudulent claims through the National Petition System, phone calls, and surveys of participating youth.

During the inspection period, the Ministry plans to closely examine whether ▲ the hired youth are engaged in IT job duties ▲ false reports were made about newly hiring youth who were already working ▲ there are records of wages being paid and then returned. Companies found to have committed fraud will be required to return the fraudulent funds and face measures such as restrictions on future support payments and penalties up to five times the amount of the fraudulent claims.

Kwon Chang-jun, Director of Youth Employment Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said, "If there are cases of receiving funds prepared with the public's tax money through dishonest means, we will take strict action without exception," adding, "We will continue to ensure thorough management of fraudulent claims and sound operation so that the Youth Digital Job Project can support the creation of private youth jobs."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor operates a continuous reporting system for fraudulent claims in the Youth Digital Job Project through its website. Anyone who becomes aware of specific fraudulent claim circumstances at a particular workplace can report them through this system.