Seongdong-gu Provides 200,000 KRW Annually for Caregivers, 300,000 KRW Monthly for Village Bus Drivers

Seongdong-gu Completes First Mandatory Worker Wage Survey by Local Government and Announces 3-Year Support Policy Roadmap... Presents Job-Specific 'Wage Guidelines' and Introduces Essential Worker Allowance for 3 Occupations Including Caregivers Next Year

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has established a three-year roadmap to improve the treatment of essential workers in Seongdong-gu and will provide essential worker allowances to approximately 2,340 workers in three occupations?caregivers, disability activity support workers, and village bus drivers?starting in 2024.

In 2020, when the spread of COVID-19 was increasing, Seongdong-gu became the first local government nationwide to enact an ordinance for the protection and support of essential workers. The district also launched awareness campaigns such as "Thank You, Essential Workers," provided safety supplies including quarantine masks and self-diagnosis kits, and continuously carried out support projects such as influenza vaccinations and psychological counseling to protect essential workers.

Seongdong-gu took a further step by recognizing that support discussions for essential workers should not be limited to disaster periods but that improving their treatment and working conditions is necessary even during normal times. Based on this awareness that stable social functions must be ensured during disasters, the district began a wage survey and a study on wage system reform for essential workers in March of this year.

The essential worker survey, the first of its kind conducted by a local government nationwide, targeted all 6,478 essential workers in Seongdong-gu across fields such as care and childcare, apartment complex management, and village bus transportation. This survey covered the entire wage system, including base pay, fixed allowances, and variable allowances, considering wage structures and payment types.

According to the district, the survey revealed that most essential worker occupations, including caregivers, apartment complex managers, and village bus drivers, lacked a standard wage system. Additionally, the average monthly wage of essential workers was approximately 2.02 million KRW, which is at the minimum wage level, with wage disparities confirmed among different occupations.

Based on the survey results, the district unveiled a “Three-Year Roadmap for Essential Worker Support Policies” aimed at improving the treatment and working environment of essential workers to enhance the quality of life for residents. The roadmap includes ▲establishing conditions for equal pay for work of equal value by presenting wage guidelines by occupation ▲long-term application of living wages for essential workers in private consignment institutions ▲income support and social safety net support prioritized for low-income occupations.

First, Seongdong-gu will present a "wage guideline," including base pay by years of service and a wage system (base pay and allowance structure), for occupations without a standard wage system. Furthermore, for caregivers, disability activity support workers, and village bus drivers?occupations with inadequate wage systems and low average wages but significant public service roles?the district will provide essential worker allowances starting in 2024 (200,000 KRW annually for caregivers and disability activity support workers, and 300,000 KRW monthly for village bus drivers).

In addition, to ensure the continuous promotion of essential worker policies, the district will establish and operate an essential worker support fund. From 2025, it plans to support part of the social insurance premiums for low-wage essential workers in the private sector and, in the long term, consider expanding the application of living wages to essential workers in private consignment institutions.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "Fairly evaluating the labor value of essential workers, who are indispensable to our society, and supporting them to fulfill their roles in the local community is directly linked to improving residents' welfare. We will continue to make multifaceted efforts to enhance the rights and interests of essential workers."