Emergency Care Support Package 2.2 Trillion Won... 20,000 Won Communication Fee for All Nationwide Aged 13 and Over

20,000 KRW per Preschool and Elementary Child
Family Care Leave Extended Up to 20 Days Annually

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The government will provide a uniform monthly communication subsidy of 20,000 KRW to all citizens aged 13 and above. This measure aims to support non-face-to-face economic and social activities caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Included in the 7.8 trillion KRW 4th supplementary budget bill, approved at the temporary Cabinet meeting on the 10th, is this emergency care support (2.2 trillion KRW). The subsidy of 20,000 KRW for communication costs will be given to 46.4 million people, with a budget allocation of 900 billion KRW.

The government also extended the family care leave, which was limited to 10 days annually, to a maximum of 20 days per year. Accordingly, single-parent workers can use up to 25 days.

The reasons for using family care leave include ▲ occurrence of COVID-19 patients or symptomatic individuals among family members ▲ closure of daycare centers, kindergartens, schools, etc., attended by children under 18 ▲ cases where care is needed due to remote classes, alternate-day attendance, or split-class operations at children's schools, etc.

With the extension of the usage period, the government's support period for care costs has also been extended from a maximum of 10 days to 15 days. Individuals can receive up to 750,000 KRW (1.5 million KRW for dual-income households). As a result, an additional 125,000 people are expected to receive support.

The special child care support of 200,000 KRW per person will be expanded from children under 7 years old to elementary school students. This aims to alleviate the increased care burden on parents due to school and daycare closures.

The government plans to promptly execute the support through local governments and education offices by utilizing existing child allowance accounts and each school's K-EduFine system.

Indirect labor costs to promote flexible work systems will also be expanded. The government currently pays 100,000 KRW per worker per week to employers implementing flexible work. The number of beneficiaries will increase from the original 14,000 to 34,000, adding 20,000 more, with a budget of 20 billion KRW.

Meanwhile, to prepare for unforeseen increases in expenses such as quarantine and emergency damage support due to future COVID-19 spread, a contingency reserve of 100 billion KRW has also been allocated.

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