Gwangju Employers Federation: "Root Industry Recruitment Crisis... Employment Support Must Be Expanded"

The Gwangju Employers Federation, in collaboration with the Gwangju city government, is carrying out the 'Gwangju Root Industry Recruitment Improvement Project,' which is attracting significant interest from companies, particularly in the areas of housing and health checkup support for workers.

According to the Gwangju Employers Federation on June 2, this project is an employment stability package designed to alleviate workforce shortages and high turnover rates at local root industry companies. It offers a multifaceted range of support to help workers settle, including subsidies for hiring regular employees, incentives for long-term service, improvements to welfare facilities, housing support, and health checkup expenses.

Among these, the housing support for workers (up to 300,000 KRW per month for a maximum of six months) and health checkup support (up to 300,000 KRW per person) have attracted concentrated inquiries since the project's launch, with demand so high that early closure is a concern.

In root industry workplaces, where turnover rates are high, 'residential stability' and 'health management' have become key factors in maintaining long-term employment. The root industries in Gwangju, which form the foundation of the region's main manufacturing sectors such as automotive, home appliances, and metal parts, have recently faced worsening business conditions due to a combination of factors, including high interest rates, declining demand, and rising raw material prices.

In fact, incidents such as the fatal industrial accident at a Kia Motors partner company in Gwangju in April, as well as factory shutdowns at major parts suppliers, are seen as clear indicators of the urgent need to address labor shortages and improve working conditions on the ground.

Yang Jinseok, Chairman of the Gwangju Employers Federation, stated, "The reality currently faced by root industry companies is not simply that 'people are not coming,' but that even when they do start working, it is structurally difficult for them to stay long-term. Employment support that also considers welfare and environmental factors, as in this project, needs to be further expanded."

He added, "While recruitment by companies is important, it is equally essential to create conditions in which workers can feel secure at work in order to truly maintain employment. Now is the time to continuously reflect feedback from the field and to develop collaborative projects with related organizations."