Extension of 6 Months for 8 Special Employment Sectors Including Tourism and Performance Industries... Employment Support Fund Provided for 240 Days

Gimpo Airport's international terminal is showing a quiet scene due to the impact of COVID-19. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The designation period for eight special employment support industries, including tourism, travel, and performance sectors that were hit hard by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has been extended by six months, and the employment retention subsidy payment period has been extended from the previous maximum of 180 days to 240 days.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held an Employment Policy Deliberation Committee meeting and reviewed and approved ▲ the extension plan for the support period of special employment support industries ▲ the extension plan for the employment retention subsidy payment period for special employment support industries ▲ and the establishment of the notification for job types and training standards for the Work-Learning Dual System.

The committee decided to extend the designation period of the eight special employment support industries, which was scheduled to end on the 15th of next month, by six months until March 31 of next year.

The industries subject to extension are ▲ travel industry ▲ tourism transportation industry (air, maritime, charter bus) ▲ tourism accommodation industry ▲ performance industry ▲ air ground handling industry ▲ duty-free shops ▲ airport buses ▲ exhibition and international conference industry.

The committee judged that as the spread of COVID-19 has prolonged, the situation where human exchanges such as travel have virtually stopped continues, causing ongoing difficulties in industries such as travel, tourism accommodation, and tourism transportation. In particular, these difficulties are reflected in statistics such as the employment retention subsidy application rate, which is 20 times higher than the average of all industries, as well as the industrial production index.

The committee also took into account the fact that the "COVID-19 Crisis Overcoming Labor-Management-Government Agreement," announced through the Economic, Social and Labor Council on the 28th of last month, included a statement to "actively consider extending the period of special employment support industries."

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. / Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

The committee also reviewed and approved a plan to extend the employment retention subsidy payment period for special employment support industries by an additional 60 days from the current 180 days. The employment retention subsidy is a system that supports up to 90% of the labor costs paid to workers by employers who are temporarily facing management difficulties and employment crises and have implemented leave or furlough.

Workplaces in special employment support industries designated due to the impact of COVID-19 will be able to receive an additional 60 days of paid leave or furlough support. Workplaces that have already exhausted the 180-day limit for employment retention subsidy support can receive support again for an additional 60 days.

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap said, "I hope that the extension of the designation period and the 60-day extension of the employment retention subsidy payment period for special employment support industries will greatly help overcome the crisis," and added, "We will continue to do our best to overcome the employment crisis through thorough and in-depth monitoring of the employment situation."

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