Incheon City Increases Allowances for Idolbomi Workers During Commute Hours to "Resolve Care Gaps"

Increase Infant Care Services for Ages 3 to 36 Months to Shorten Waiting Periods

Incheon City is strengthening support for childcare workers to address care gaps. The city announced on the 8th that it will pilot the 'Incheon-style i+ (i Plus) Childcare' customized support project starting this month.

Although the demand for gap childcare due to working parents' morning preparations or late returns from work is increasing, most childcare services are concentrated during daytime hours, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times.

Accordingly, the city plans to designate about 300 dedicated childcare workers to work from 6 to 8 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m., providing them with a base hourly wage of 10,110 won plus an additional 1,000 won per hour to expand childcare services during these hours.

Additionally, childcare workers caring for infants aged 3 to 36 months who work more than 60 hours per month will receive an extra monthly allowance of 50,000 won.

According to a survey conducted in May, there are a total of 668 households on the waiting list for childcare in Incheon, of which 333 households are waiting for infant care for children aged 0 to 2 years, accounting for 50% of the total. This indicates a shortage of childcare workers compared to the demand for infant care.

Incheon City Hall

The city expects that with the expansion of childcare workers through this project, the inconvenience of parents having to wait a long time to secure helpers for their children will be reduced.

The childcare service targets children aged 3 months to 12 years in families experiencing care gaps due to reasons such as dual-income or single-parent households. The personal usage fee ranges from 1,744 won to 11,630 won per hour based on household income levels for the basic care service.

Applications for childcare services can be made at the administrative welfare center after income type determination, followed by applying to local service providers. If all income assessment subjects are enrolled in workplace insurance, online applications are available through 'Bokjiro'.

An Incheon city official stated, "We will support the budget for childcare workers during peak commuting hours and infant care services to improve their working conditions and ensure stable service provision."