57.3% of Gwangju Social Service Workers Say Wage Increase Is Necessary

The Most Common Reason for Work: "Participation in Social Activities"
91% of Workers Are in Non-Regular Employment
City Announces Survey Results for 7,986 Workers

Gwangju City held a meeting of the Task Force for the Improvement of Social Service Workers' Rights on the 26th at the city hall multipurpose room, attended by about 20 people including members of the Task Force and officials from the Gwangju Social Service Agency. They reported the results of a survey on workers' conditions and discussed future plans. Photo by Gwangju City

More than half, or 57.3%, of social service workers in Gwangju believe that an 'increase in wages' to the level of Ministry of Health and Welfare guidelines is necessary.

The city of Gwangju announced on the 27th that it held the 7th meeting of the 'Task Force for the Improvement of Rights and Interests of Public Sector Social Service Workers' on the 26th at the city hall multipurpose room, with about 20 participants including task force members and officials from Gwangju Social Service Institute. The meeting included a report on the results of a worker status survey and discussions on future measures.

In August 2023, the city formed and has been operating the Social Service Rights Improvement Task Force as a result of a four-party agreement among Gwangju City, Gwangju City Council, Gwangju Social Service Institute, and the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, regarding issues such as the employment of substitute teachers at daycare centers.

To reflect the voices from the social service field, the city conducted a survey from May to December last year on 7,986 workers from 20 projects providing care, health and medical, and counseling services such as Gwangjudaum Integrated Care and Customized Care for the Elderly. The survey investigated working conditions and cases of human rights violations over an eight-month period.

According to the survey, 49.5% of respondents were engaged in elderly care, followed by 17.5% in care for people with disabilities, and 12.9% in child care.

The most cited reason for working in social services was 'to participate in social activities and feel satisfaction and fulfillment in life' at 35.3%. This was followed by 'to be the main source of family income' at 22.1%, 'to earn supplementary income for the household' at 16.5%, and 'because I can work even at an older age' at 14.3%.

The average hourly wage by field was 14,406 KRW for care, 17,044 KRW for health and medical, and 12,434 KRW for counseling. The average monthly working hours were 121 hours for care, 185 hours for health and medical, and 204 hours for counseling.

The most common suggestion for improving the wage system was 'raising the wage level to that of the Ministry of Health and Welfare guidelines' (57.3%). This was followed by the need to establish a wage system that reflects the experience of social service workers (10.6%). As for welfare benefits that must be implemented, transportation and communication expenses ranked highest at 39.9%, followed by holiday bonuses at 27.1%.

By employment type, 37.5% were non-regular (part-time), 27.2% non-regular (fixed-term), 24.5% indefinite contract, and 8.9% regular employees.

Based on the results of this survey, the city of Gwangju plans to vitalize discussions of the public sector social service workers' rights improvement task force and establish a comprehensive plan for the improvement of rights and interests of social service workers that reflects on-site conditions and circumstances.

Im Aesoon, head of the Care Policy Division, said, "This meeting was an opportunity to deeply consider what needs to be done while reviewing the results of the 'Public Sector Social Service Worker Status Survey.' We will distinguish between matters to be addressed by the government and those to be handled by Gwangju City, and strive to improve the rights and interests of social service workers by establishing a phased support system."