Support for Paper Collection Seniors Aged 65 and Over
Up to 5 Million KRW for Disability and Liability Compensation
Provision of Reflective Vests, Safety Helmets, and Rear Cart Lights
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 5th that starting in November, it will support safety insurance enrollment for senior citizens aged 65 and older who collect waste paper. The support includes coverage for accidents occurring during waste paper collection as well as liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage, and safety equipment such as lightweight rear carts and reflective vests will also be provided.
According to the "Survey on the Status of Elderly Waste Paper Collectors" published by the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute in 2023, 22% of elderly waste paper collectors have experienced injuries during their activities, and 6.3% have experienced traffic accidents. This rate is nine times higher than the overall elderly pedestrian traffic accident experience rate of 0.7% in 2022.
In response, Seoul City has decided to support insurance enrollment for elderly waste paper collectors. The coverage includes up to 5 million KRW for death or permanent disability caused by traffic accidents during waste paper collection, and 100,000 to 500,000 KRW for injury diagnosis fees. Additionally, liability coverage for bodily injury or property damage to third parties during waste paper collection activities is provided up to 5 million KRW, offering broad support.
Elderly waste paper collectors aged 65 or older who are registered residents of Seoul can receive coverage without any separate enrollment procedures. In case of an accident and a claim for insurance benefits, they can contact the relevant district office in their place of residence.
Furthermore, Seoul plans to distribute 300 lightweight rear carts with a width of less than 1 meter by December so that elderly waste paper collectors can travel on sidewalks instead of dangerous roads. Generally, waste paper collection rear carts exceed 1 meter in width and can only be used on roads, which often causes frequent traffic accidents. The distribution of lightweight rear carts to elderly waste paper collectors will continue next year as well. Reflective vests (1,558 units), safety helmets (1,141 units), and rear cart attached lights (871 units) will also be provided upon request to prevent safety accidents for seniors working on roads at night without protective gear.
In addition, safety education, which has so far been provided only to participants in public jobs for waste paper collection, will be expanded to all elderly waste paper collectors once a year. The education mainly covers the dangers of jaywalking and the importance of wearing protective gear, and various safety items will be distributed to encourage participation. Seong Jang-hoon, Director of Welfare at Seoul City, said, "Accidents involving elderly people collecting waste paper on roads without protective equipment are increasing," adding, "We will systematically protect the health and safety of seniors by providing comprehensive support from basic safety equipment to safety insurance enrollment."
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