Special Employment Workers "Government COVID-19 Employment Support, Eliminate Blind Spots"

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Special Employment Workers Countermeasures Committee and special employment workers are urging for measures during a press conference to testify about the field situation and announce their stance on countermeasures following the announcement of COVID-19 special employment support measures held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 13th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Specially employed (special employment, "teukgo") workers appealed to the government and the National Assembly for fundamental measures, citing the practical difficulties caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the afternoon of the 13th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "The 2.5 million teukgo workers are not even included in the government's support measures announced to resolve the employment crisis caused by COVID-19," and demanded, "Quickly resolve the blind spots in the employment safety net and labor laws."

The KCTU emphasized that due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, teukgo workers such as after-school instructors, broadcast writers, insurance planners, and quick service delivery workers have experienced income reductions of up to 90%, facing difficulties in making a living, yet have received no support.

The KCTU pointed out, "For teukgo workers, who are not considered workers under the Labor Standards Act, employment retention subsidies or family care leave support are just 'pie in the sky,'" adding, "Most teukgo workers, except for some enrolled in industrial accident insurance, cannot even receive worker livelihood stabilization fund loans." They continued, "The Special Support Project for Regional Employment Response only covers 140,000 people in terms of budget, leaving the remaining 2.36 million without benefits, and even then, support criteria vary greatly by local government based on income, so many are excluded."

They stated, "The government must immediately provide emergency unemployment benefits to all workers whose income has decreased," and "The National Assembly should convene an extraordinary session to pass the 'Employment Insurance Act for All Citizens,' including teukgo workers, and amend the Trade Union Act to expand the definition of workers so that teukgo workers can also form unions."

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