Civic Groups Urge Implementation of Five Major Social Safety Net Measures Amid COVID-19 Situation

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] On the 11th, 12 civic groups including People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Health and Medical Network held a press conference at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced the 'Five urgent social safety net measures to be implemented during the COVID-19 situation.'

They identified ▲expansion of public hospitals ▲introduction of sickness benefits and paid sick leave ▲guarantee of operation of essential institutions such as care facilities ▲introduction of nationwide employment insurance ▲preparation of housing measures for the homeless as the five urgent social safety net measures to be implemented during the COVID-19 situation.

The civic groups stated, "Even though the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has decreased to the 100s, there is still a shortage of hospital beds," and argued that "expansion of public hospitals is urgent."

They added, "A plan to establish public hospitals should be prepared in medically vulnerable areas without public hospitals, and preliminary feasibility studies should be exempted when establishing them."

Regarding the introduction of sickness benefits and paid sick leave, they said, "Although community infection has already progressed significantly in our country, there is no social security system that allows people to take leave when they are sick," and emphasized, "Paid sick leave should be legislated, and the sickness benefit system should be immediately implemented to create conditions that allow people to rest when ill."

Participants also stated that the operation of care facilities such as daycare centers, kindergartens, and nursing facilities must be guaranteed as essential. Park Min-a, an activist from Moms in Politics, said, "With schools closed, children are being pushed to private academies. Caregivers want children to receive safe public care within schools."

Hyun Jeong-hee, co-representative of the Elderly Long-term Care Solidarity Committee, said, "It is difficult to maintain social distancing in nursing facilities," and added, "Workers who care for vulnerable groups in society such as the elderly and disabled are not guaranteed a safe working environment."

They said, "In the COVID-19 situation, non-standard workers such as special employment workers and freelancers, as well as self-employed individuals, are more exposed to income loss and unemployment risks," and argued, "Employment insurance covering the entire population must be introduced."

They continued, "Urgent housing measures must be prepared, such as providing housing at a level that allows self-quarantine for the homeless who are exposed to infection 24 hours a day."

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