Assemblyman Kang Myunggu Proposes the “Solid Support Act for Social Workers”

Establishing a Stable Operational Foundation...
Enhancing the Quality of Social Welfare Services Through Expanded Education and Training
Amendment to the “Social Workers Treatment Act” Provides Legal Grounds for National Subsidies to the Mutual Aid Association
Social Workers Make Significant Public Contributions Comparable to Police Officers and Firefighters and Deserve Commensurate Treatment

On November 4, Assemblyman Kang Myunggu (People Power Party, Gumi Eul, Gyeongbuk) announced that he had sponsored the partial amendment bill to the Act on the Improvement of Treatment and Status of Social Workers, aiming to establish an institutional foundation for improving the treatment and strengthening the competencies of social workers.

This so-called “Solid Support Act for Social Workers” is designed to allow the Korea Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association, which has struggled due to the lack of a legal basis for financial support, to receive subsidies from the national or local governments.

Kang Myunggu, Member of the National Assembly (People Power Party, Gumi Eul, Gyeongbuk) / Photo by Kim Ihwan

This so-called “Solid Support Act for Social Workers” is designed to allow the Korea Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association, which has struggled due to the lack of a legal basis for financial support, to receive subsidies from the national or local governments.

Under the current law, social workers may establish the Korea Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association to promote stability of livelihood and welfare enhancement, and the association may provide mutual aid benefits and welfare services for its members.

However, while other mutual aid associations for police officers, firefighters, and teachers have legal grounds for the national or local governments to support their mutual aid funds under relevant laws, the Korea Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association lacks such a legal basis and has been facing difficulties in stable operation.

The amendment introduces new provisions: ▲ requiring the national or local governments to provide subsidies to the Korea Social Welfare Mutual Aid Association, and ▲ mandating the implementation of education and training programs to strengthen the work competencies of social workers.

Through these measures, not only is the welfare of social workers expected to improve, but the quality of social welfare services provided to the public is also anticipated to be enhanced.

Assemblyman Kang Myunggu stated, “Social workers devote themselves to protecting vulnerable groups and improving welfare services even in poor working conditions, yet they still lack commensurate treatment and institutional support. Given their contributions to the public good, support on par with that provided to police officers and firefighters is necessary.”

He also explained the legislative intent, saying, “The foundation of social workers’ livelihoods must be stabilized for the welfare level of the public to rise as well. If this bill passes, it will establish an institutional foundation for social workers to work in better environments.”