Ruling Party, Government, and Blue House Discuss Protection and Support Measures for Essential Workers: "A Social Safety Net Must Be Established"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The Democratic Party of Korea, the government, and the Blue House held a meeting on the 12th to discuss measures to protect and support essential workers. Essential workers must continue face-to-face labor due to the nature of their work, even as non-face-to-face tasks increase amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Delivery workers, caregivers, and healthcare workers are included among essential workers, and low treatment compared to the intensity of labor was also pointed out as an issue.

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, held a party-government-Blue House meeting at the National Assembly that morning and stated, “The work done by essential workers is indispensable to society, but the reality they face is vulnerable.” He said that it is necessary to consider measures not only for essential workers but also for platform workers. He pointed out, “Platform workers may not fall under this system, but we must hurry. So far, laws have created safety nets based on workers’ exclusivity, but the number of non-exclusive workers is increasing day by day.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, “Both essential workers and platform workers are exposed to threats to their health and quarantine,” emphasizing, “Institutional considerations are needed to establish an inclusive safety net. The quarantine authorities also need to separately consider special support such as health insurance.”

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, “It is time to establish new social safety net standards to protect and support essential workers,” adding, “The Democratic Party and the government are preparing substantial measures to protect and support essential workers by allocating a budget of 1.8 trillion won next year.” He also said, “We need to accelerate universal employment insurance and industrial accident insurance. Social discussions should also proceed quickly to improve the quality of public services, such as expanding regular care teachers.”

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, who attended the meeting, said, “The government has already announced the first phase of strengthened protection measures for essential workers and is operating an intergovernmental task force (TF) to discuss additional support and protection measures,” adding, “Universal employment insurance, a core part of the Korean New Deal, urgently requires understanding the income information of various workers, and the joint TF of related ministries is preparing plans to improve income identification.” He said, “We expect in-depth discussions among the party, government, and Blue House on protection and support measures and measures to prevent overwork deaths among delivery workers, and we will announce them in December.”

Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, also said, “We will announce measures today regarding the practice of long hours and high-intensity work,” adding, “We will include protection measures for various occupations such as delivery, healthcare, caregiving, and sanitation workers. Additional measures with high impact by sector will be announced in November.”

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