Seoul City Supports 10,000 Jobs for Leave Workers and Youth Amid 'COVID Employment Crisis'

Up to 1 Million Won 'Employment Retention Subsidy' for 5,500 Unpaid Leave Workers in Business Suspension/Restriction
Matching 400 'Youth Interns' to 200 Small and Medium Enterprises... 4,528 New Public Jobs Created

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide up to 1 million KRW per person in "Employment Retention Support Fund" to workers on unpaid leave whose workplaces have been suspended or restricted due to strengthened social distancing measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. For "Seoul-type Small Giants," the city will support the wages of 400 youth interns with 2.5 million KRW per month for two months, and through 4,528 public jobs, it aims to stabilize the livelihoods of vulnerable groups.

On the 4th, Seoul announced that it has prepared a "Measures to Overcome the Employment Crisis Due to the Resurgence of COVID-19" including these details and secured a budget of 23.5 billion KRW for this purpose.

First, the "Employment Retention Support Fund" was established reflecting the urgent need to maintain employment for workers of companies that had to suspend or restrict operations due to strengthened social distancing. The support targets workers who have been on unpaid leave for five days or more since July 1 in Seoul-based companies with fewer than 50 employees and whose employment is maintained. The eligibility criteria have been significantly relaxed compared to the government's rapid unpaid leave support program to enhance speed and convenience.

Applications can be submitted to the district office where the company or business is located along with the application form and supporting documents. Seoul plans to start accepting applications within this month, select 5,500 people at once based on the criteria, and directly provide support funds to unpaid leave workers through district offices over November and December.

Alongside this, the city will launch the "Seoul-type Small Giants Youth Internship Program," allowing young people facing employment difficulties due to reduced new hiring to gain experience by working as youth interns at Seoul-type Small Giants. Seoul-type Small Giants are companies preferred by youth for their organizational culture, employment stability, and high salary levels.

The city will match two youth interns per 200 Small Giants companies with hiring plans, supporting a total of 400 youth interns with a monthly salary of 2.5 million KRW for two months, along with job competency enhancement programs that include coaching and professional counseling from current employees and experts. Notably, after the internship period ends, companies will directly hire interns, operating the program so that companies select youth interns they actually need, leading to real job opportunities.

If youth interns are hired as regular employees, in addition to the 10 million KRW per person workplace environment improvement fund supported for Seoul-type Small Giants, an additional incentive of 2 million KRW per person will be provided. However, representatives, executives, their direct ascendants, or relatives of the respective companies are not eligible to apply for this program.

The "Regional Job Project to Overcome COVID-19," which creates public jobs, will also begin. It will provide public jobs to a total of 4,528 people from vulnerable employment groups such as low-income individuals, unemployed persons, those on leave or business closures, special employment workers, and freelancers to stabilize their livelihoods. They will work up to 40 hours per week for two months, receiving a monthly salary of up to approximately 1.8 million KRW.

The jobs will include support for daily quarantine, assistant enforcement personnel for quarantine rules, revitalization projects for traditional markets, and other necessary jobs to overcome COVID-19. Recruitment announcements for individual projects will begin this month through the 25 district offices and the Seoul Metropolitan Government website.

Kim Ui-seung, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Economic Policy Office, said, "We have urgently prepared additional reinforcement measures to support vulnerable employment groups struggling due to the employment crisis caused by the resurgence and prolongation of COVID-19," adding, "We will actively identify and provide targeted support to three groups?unpaid leave workers, youth, and vulnerable groups?who may fall into the blind spots of existing government support policies to maximize effectiveness."

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