Next Year, Workers in Two Sectors Including Delivery Drivers
Tasks Such as Encouraging Self-Employed Enrollment in 2023
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that the number of special employment workers (SEWs) in 12 industries, including insurance planners and delivery drivers, who have enrolled in employment insurance has exceeded 500,000 within five months. This indicates that the government's nationwide employment insurance policy, which is being actively promoted to expand the employment safety net, is receiving a certain level of positive response. However, there are also voices pointing out that significant challenges remain, such as encouraging self-employed individuals to join the system as planned in 2023.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the employment insurance enrollment results for SEWs in 12 industries on the 22nd. Since the system began on July 1, up to the 10th of this month, 503,218 people have enrolled. By occupation, insurance planners accounted for the largest share at 57.8%, followed by door-to-door salespersons (10.5%), delivery drivers (9.3%), and visiting instructors for study materials (7.5%). Although 73,881 after-school instructors were reported to have enrolled in employment insurance, they were excluded from this statistic pending additional verification by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
By region, Seoul, where many insurance planner workplaces are located, accounted for the highest proportion at 74.4%, followed by Gyeonggi Province (9.4%) and Busan (3.2%). By age group, 50s made up 35.8%, 40s 32.0%, 30s 16.0%, and those aged 60 and above 10.6%. By gender, women accounted for 64.8% and men 35.2%. There are 24,830 workplaces with SEW employment insurance coverage, of which 59.8% (12,017 workplaces) actually have insured persons. It is reported that most of these are small-scale workplaces with fewer than 30 employees.
The next goal is to maximize the number of enrollees in two occupations?quick service and designated driver drivers?who will be included in the coverage starting January next year. In particular, delivery drivers (riders), who frequently experience industrial accidents, are included as quick service industry workers and thus are a priority for the government to bring into the system. For the self-employed, since the employment insurance premium rate is 2.2%, which is 0.6 percentage points higher than the 1.6% for workplace subscribers, issues remain regarding how to set their premium rates and the scope of eligible enrollees.
Employment Minister An Kyung-duk stated, "SEW employment insurance is successfully settling in," and added, "We will monitor to ensure more SEWs can be protected by the employment safety net and carefully prepare for the employment insurance for platform workers to be implemented from next year."
SEWs who have enrolled in employment insurance and meet the requirements can receive unemployment benefits (job-seeking benefits) and maternity benefits before and after childbirth. To be eligible for SEW employment insurance, the monthly wage earned from labor provision contracts must be at least 800,000 KRW. From January next year, SEWs with two or more labor provision contracts whose combined monthly wages total 800,000 KRW or more will also be included in the coverage.
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