National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Passes Bills on Employment Insurance for Artists and Job Support for Low-Income Groups

Employment Insurance Excludes Special Employment and Platform Workers... "21st National Assembly Reconsideration"

Imija, Chairperson of the Employment and Labor Subcommittee of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, attended the Employment and Labor Subcommittee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th and struck the gavel to signal the start of the meeting. On this day, the subcommittee reviewed the "Employment Insurance Act Amendment," which focuses on expanding the scope of employment insurance coverage, and the "Job Seeker Employment Promotion and Livelihood Stabilization Support Act" for the introduction of the National Employment Support System. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 11th, the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee passed the 'Employment Insurance Act Amendment' expanding employment insurance coverage to include cultural and artistic workers, as well as related laws for the 'National Employment Support System' aimed at promoting job seeking among low-income groups.

On the same day, the Environment and Labor Committee held consecutive meetings of the Employment and Labor Subcommittee and the full committee, approving the Employment Insurance Act amendment and the enactment bill concerning job seekers' employment promotion and livelihood stabilization support.

The amendment to the Employment Insurance Act established the basis for workers in the arts sector to enroll in employment insurance if they wish, enabling them to receive unemployment benefits necessary for livelihood stabilization and early reemployment. During the meeting, the Employment and Labor Subcommittee discussed expanding coverage to include special employment workers, platform workers, and freelancers, but considering fiscal soundness, decided to include only artists for now.

Im Eui-ja, chairperson of the Employment and Labor Subcommittee and member of the Future United Party, commented on the exclusion of special employment and platform workers, saying, "The scope was too broad to pass today," and added, "There is enough time in the 21st National Assembly to discuss this again."

The National Employment Support System, known as the Korean-style unemployment assistance, allows support of up to 500,000 KRW per month for up to six months to low-income individuals, youth, and small-scale self-employed persons who have the ability and intention to work but are unable to find employment. If this enactment bill passes the National Assembly, it will be implemented starting January 1 of next year. The specific range and amount of support payments will be decided by the Employment Policy Deliberation Committee under the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Rep. Im said, "The National Employment Support System is Korean-style unemployment assistance that provides job-seeking promotion allowances to low-income small-scale self-employed persons," and added, "It is expected to minimize blind spots as a necessary secondary employment safety net for people in long-term unemployment."

These bills will be submitted to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee before being presented to the plenary session. If not processed in the plenary session within the term of the 20th National Assembly, they will be automatically discarded.

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