Seongdong-gu Provides Essential Labor Allowance for Caregivers and Disability Activity Support Workers for Chuseok

Following about 1,920 facility workers in February this year, approximately 160 facility workers from locations outside Seongdong-gu will receive a 200,000 KRW allowance... Various support will continue to improve employment stability and rights of essential workers who play a crucial role in maintaining social functions

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) will provide essential labor allowances to caregivers and disability activity supporters who play a crucial role in maintaining social functions during the Chuseok holiday.

The district recognizes that job security for essential workers is paramount to ensure the stable maintenance of social functions even during sudden disasters. Therefore, it supports essential workers engaged in necessary social maintenance tasks, especially those with relatively inadequate wage systems and poor working conditions, by providing essential labor allowances.

In February, the first essential labor allowance of the year was paid, supporting about 1,920 caregivers and disability activity supporters working in facilities within Seongdong-gu with 200,000 KRW per person.

For the Chuseok holiday, the district will expand support to include Seongdong-gu residents working as caregivers and disability activity supporters in other regions. Approximately 160 caregivers and disability activity supporters who are Seongdong-gu residents, belong to workplaces outside Seongdong-gu, and worked more than 100 hours last year will be eligible to receive 200,000 KRW per person as an essential labor allowance.

Caregiver Activities

Seongdong-gu was the first in the nation to define the concept of essential workers and has taken the lead in promoting practical and concrete policies for essential workers by establishing institutional foundations for their protection and support.

In 2020, when the spread of COVID-19 was increasing, workers who risked infection to perform face-to-face tasks to maintain the normal functioning of society were named "essential workers." Seongdong-gu was the first in the country to enact the Seoul Special City Seongdong-gu Essential Workers Protection and Support Ordinance. This ordinance gained significant social consensus and was legislated into the Essential Workers Protection Act within a year of its enactment.

In addition to providing essential labor allowances, the district has promoted various projects such as establishing a support fund for essential workers, supporting influenza vaccinations, and opening rest shelters for essential and platform workers. It plans to continue efforts to build a social safety net for low-income occupations.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "I hope that the support of essential labor allowances will serve as an opportunity for the labor value created by essential workers such as caregivers and disability activity supporters to be more justly recognized." He added, "We will continue to spare no effort in providing various supports to improve the rights and interests of essential workers who play a vital role in maintaining social functions."