Hwaseong-si Supports 'Training Fees' to Improve Caregivers' Working Conditions

Benefits for Over 2,500 Mandatory Continuing Education Participants

Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 24th that it will support the 'refresher training' tuition fees for long-term care workers employed at long-term care institutions within the city starting this month to improve their working conditions.

Refresher training for care workers is a mandatory legal education conducted under the Elderly Long-Term Care Act to enhance the professionalism of care workers and improve the quality of services. It has been mandatory since this year, requiring care workers employed at long-term care institutions to complete at least 8 hours every two years.

The support amount is 36,000 KRW for 8 hours of in-person training. By submitting an application form through the 'Social Welfare Facility Information System' website, the support funds will be paid directly to the care worker’s account. The city expects that about 2,500 care workers subject to this year’s training completion among those employed at long-term care institutions within the city will be eligible for support.

Previously, in November last year, Hwaseong City enacted the 'Ordinance on the Improvement of Treatment and Status of Long-Term Care Workers' to improve the working conditions of employees at long-term care institutions. Along with this, the Hwaseong Welfare Foundation is conducting a 'Survey on the Actual Conditions of Long-Term Care Workers in Hwaseong City and a Study on Measures to Improve Their Treatment.'

Jung Myung-geun, mayor of Hwaseong City, said, "We have decided to support refresher training fees to improve the treatment of care workers who are dedicated on the front lines of elderly care." He added, "We will do our best to help provide professional and excellent care services through improved working conditions."