Lee Jae-gap "Freelance Artists Also Supported with Unemployment and Maternity Benefits... Bill Under Discussion"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] On the 14th, Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "If employment insurance is expanded to include artists, freelance artists will also be able to receive unemployment benefits and maternity/paternity benefits."

On the same day, Minister Lee held an 'Artists' Meeting for the Expansion of the Employment Safety Net' at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, "The government plans to expand the scope of employment insurance to guarantee the livelihood of the unemployed and support reemployment."

He particularly explained that "due to the restraint on outdoor activities caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), artists are suffering significant economic damage," and that measures to include artists in the employment insurance coverage are being pursued.

According to a survey by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, performance sales in March amounted to 9.13641 billion KRW, a 56.3% decrease compared to the previous month.

Minister Lee conveyed that "the amendment to the Employment Insurance Act to include artists in the employment insurance coverage has passed the Environment and Labor Committee plenary session, and related discussions are ongoing in the National Assembly."

He added, "The government will continue to consult with the National Assembly to pass the amendment to the Employment Insurance Act and will thoroughly prepare subordinate legislation so that artists can receive support from the employment insurance system starting next year."

Currently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is implementing various measures such as establishing loan programs for artists whose income has decreased due to COVID-19 and expanding expense support for young artists' creative activities.

However, most artists are freelancers (76.0%, according to a 2018 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism survey) and do not receive sufficient protection from the employment safety net.

Minister Lee reiterated, "It is urgent to expand the employment safety net to protect artists from the increasingly severe livelihood threats caused by COVID-19."

To immediately support freelance artists whose income has decreased due to the COVID-19 situation, an emergency employment stabilization fund of 1.5 trillion KRW will be provided.

For special types of workers and freelancers below a certain income level, small business owners, and unpaid leave workers who have experienced income or sales decreases or unpaid leave, up to 1.5 million KRW will be supported.

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