Gangdong-gu Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon Launches Full-Scale Implementation of '2020 Gangdong-gu Labor Policy Basic Plan'

On May 1 Labor Day, full-scale promotion aiming for labor-friendly city Gangdong... 4 major policy tasks and 35 unit projects including electronic card system for construction workers, youth part-time job-friendly store certification, and Hope Stepping Stone Fund creation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangdong-gu (District Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) will fully implement the 2020 Gangdong-gu Labor Policy Implementation Plan starting May 1, Labor Day marking its 130th anniversary, aiming to create a 'Labor-Friendly City Gangdong.'

This implementation plan was finalized at the 'Gangdong-gu Labor Rights Committee' held on February 19, based on last year's completed 'Gangdong-gu Labor Status Survey and Basic Plan Research Service.'

Previously, Gangdong-gu opened the largest autonomous district-operated Labor Rights Center staffed with professional personnel on June 20 last year, providing one-stop services including employment, legal, and labor consultations for vulnerable workers, as well as various civil services of local governments.

To promote systematic and continuous labor policies tailored to local conditions, the district has established four major policy tasks and 35 individual projects under the vision of 'Labor-Friendly City Gangdong': 'Protection of Vulnerable Workers' Rights,' 'Promotion of Labor Rights Protection and Prevention Activities,' 'Labor-Management Win-Win Cooperation and Employment Stability Maintenance,' and 'Expansion of Labor Respect Awareness and Culture,' which will be actively pursued starting this year.

◇Labor for Living, Not Just Survival! Protection of Vulnerable Workers' Rights

To realize a city where labor is properly respected, projects to protect the rights of vulnerable workers will be promoted.

The district plans to provide in-depth individual legal consultations and customized labor law and labor rights education on various topics for diverse vulnerable groups who are easily placed in blind spots of labor rights. Last year, 58 legal consultations including civil and criminal cases were conducted, and labor law education was provided to 1,526 people over 12 sessions.

The 'Gangdong-gu Mobile Workers Support Center,' opened on September 17 last year for workers whose jobs involve mobility such as delivery, quick service, app delivery, and private tutors, had 4,210 users as of the end of February this year, with usage steadily increasing.

To further activate usage, the district plans to extend opening hours and rent out idle spaces within the center to general residents, utilizing it as a local community space.

Additionally, to improve the welfare of mobile workers, regular health, housing, and financial consultations will be conducted, along with cultural services such as humanities lectures.

This year, the district will focus on protecting the rights of vulnerable workers including construction workers, youth, and low-income groups. First, the 'Electronic Card System' will be implemented to protect the rights of construction workers on public projects.

With the introduction of electronic cards replacing manual management of construction workers, systematic management and objective verification of wage payment details will be possible, expected to eradicate wage arrears, ensure accurate employment management, and enable quick response to safety accidents.

Furthermore, the district plans to conduct the 'Youth Part-Time Job Friendly Store Certification Project,' which supports discovering labor-friendly workplaces for youth part-time jobs by encouraging labor contract writing and minimum wage compliance. The 'Hope Stepping Stone Fund' will also be established to lend fines interest-free to those who have unpaid small fines, preventing family livelihood difficulties.

◇Knowledge is Power! Labor Rights Protection and Prevention Activities

Basic and essential labor education and consultation projects for labor rights protection will be expanded. The district has been providing professional and integrated one-stop welfare services for labor rights with resident full-time lawyers, labor attorneys, and psychotherapists offering labor law consultations and psychological counseling.

Last year, a total of 214 sessions of labor rights education were conducted for 12,949 people including youth, workers, and public officials, along with 686 labor consultations and 393 mental health screenings. For 15 high-risk individuals, 93 sessions of in-depth personal counseling were also provided.

This year, 'Visiting Psychological Counseling Rooms' and 'Visiting Labor Rights Centers' will be expanded for those who find it difficult to visit in person. In particular, a survey on emotional labor workers will be conducted to establish systematic and comprehensive support measures for their protection.

Additionally, as a preventive measure against workplace power abuse and harassment, which have recently become issues, a reporting center will be operated alongside preventive education.

◇Value of Coexistence! Labor-Management Win-Win Cooperation and Employment Stability Maintenance

The district will support not only workers but also small business owners to promote a harmonious realization of coexistence and cooperation rather than conflict and confrontation between labor and management by implementing a labor culture building project for win-win cooperation.

To guarantee a dignified life for low-income workers, the 'Living Wage System' has been introduced since 2016, applied to 729 workers including those employed by Gangdong-gu and its funded institutions. The 2020 living wage is 10,520 KRW per hour (2,198,680 KRW per month), which is 22.4% higher than the 2020 minimum wage of 8,590 KRW.

On November 12 last year, Gangdong-gu became the first autonomous district in Seoul to establish a 'Labor-Management-Government Council,' enabling tailored problem-solving approaches to labor-management-government issues.

This year, to revitalize the domestic economy depressed by COVID-19 and provide practical support to small business owners, Gangdong Love Gift Certificates usable only within Gangdong-gu were issued in January with a scale of 10 billion KRW and sold out by April.

Moreover, the district plans to conduct the 'Gangdong-gu Small Business Alley Market Status Survey' to establish customized small business support policies reflecting local characteristics and changes in business conditions.

◇Labor-Friendly City Gangdong! Expansion of Labor Respect Awareness and Culture

To create a society where the value of all labor is respected regardless of its nature, projects to expand labor respect awareness and culture will be promoted.

Last year, the 129th Labor Day commemorative event was held to express the will to promote labor policies and the importance of labor, and a larger event involving more workers is planned for the second half of this year.

Additionally, the district produced and published the 'Friendly Labor Law Guide for Gangdong Residents,' 'Gangdong Labor Consultation Stories' containing counseling cases, and the 'Labor Handbook Summarizing Only the Essentials,' making labor easily understandable for everyone.

This year, labor consultation and promotion booths will be operated at major district events, labor respect culture expansion campaigns will be conducted, and promotional activities using construction site temporary fences will be carried out simultaneously.

Furthermore, selected award-winning domestic and international films will be screened in labor rights short film screenings, and youth labor rights education will be conducted in collaboration with private organizations.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, "We will promote policies that respect labor and workers, striving to create a society where labor is proud, everyone is respected and recognized regardless of their work, and where the fruits of hard work are shared in a win-win society." He added, "We will implement field-oriented labor policies that workers can feel to realize 'Labor-Friendly City Gangdong.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.