Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service Makes All-Out Efforts to Support Workers with Overdue Wages Ahead of Chuseok

Supporting the National Policy of "Eradicating Wage Arrears"

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service (Chairman Paek Jonggil) is making every effort to support workers with overdue wages ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

On September 19, Chairman Paek Jonggil visited the Seoul Regional Headquarters of the Service to inspect the sites where advance payments are made and the dedicated recovery team. He emphasized, "With Chuseok approaching, workers who have not received their wages are facing severe financial difficulties. Please do not be constrained by the statutory processing period-provide advance payments within a maximum of three days, and if the eligibility is clear, do your utmost to make same-day payments."

Paek Jonggil, chairman of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, visited the Seoul Regional Headquarters of the Service on the 19th, emphasizing the prompt support of overdue workers' lump-sum payments and actively engaging in on-site management. Photo by Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service

The advance payment system is a policy in which the government pays wages or severance pay on behalf of employers who have failed to do so, and then exercises the right of recourse against those employers.

The payments cover the final three months of wages, suspension allowances, salaries during maternity leave, and severance pay for the last three years. Last year, 127,000 workers received a total of 720 billion won, and as of the end of August this year, 75,000 workers have received 470 billion won.

On this day, Chairman Paek also visited the newly established "High-Value Debt Intensive Recovery Team," which is responsible for the professional and systematic recovery of debts from employers with overdue amounts of 300 million won or more. He stated, "It is essential to prevent moral hazard and establish a culture of corporate integrity," and requested, "Please take the lead in securing the soundness of the wage claim fund and protecting workers' rights through systematic recovery activities."

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service plans to actively support the government's national policy of "eradicating wage arrears" by implementing a variety of support systems, including prompt advance payments, systematic recovery, loans to employers for wage arrears settlement, and living expense loans for workers with overdue wages.

Chairman Paek Jonggil said, "The advance payment system is an important social safety net that protects workers' rights," adding, "We will create an environment where workers can work with peace of mind through prompt payments and strong recovery activities."