Gyeongnam Launches Nation's First Paid Leave Vocational Training Program

Support for Workers to Participate in Job Training Without Layoffs or Unpaid Leave

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The 'Region-Specialized Emergency Regional Training Pilot Project,' jointly promoted by Gyeongnam Province and the Ministry of Employment and Labor as the first of its kind nationwide, is establishing itself as a model for employment retention.

The 'Region-Specialized Emergency Vocational Training Pilot Project' is a program where if employers take measures to have their workers participate in vocational training through paid leave without converting to layoffs or unpaid leave, the government supports labor costs and training expenses, while the province and city/county support employers' four major insurance premiums.

Labor costs are supported by the Employment Insurance Fund at 150% of the minimum wage, including weekly holiday pay, and training expenses are covered at 100% of the standard training unit price. The province and city/county each support 50% of the employer's four major insurance premiums.

According to the province, since the first training course was opened on November 2, a total of 781 workers in the province have participated in the pilot project as of December 7.

Priority support target companies with business addresses in the province (for manufacturing, workplaces with 500 or fewer regular employees) can participate in the project, and after opening joint training centers and training courses in the province, they must receive training approval from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea.

Kim Ki-young, Director of the Job Economy Bureau of the province, stated, "This pilot project is a useful system that can enhance corporate competitiveness through vocational training while preventing the loss of skilled workers," and added, "We hope companies struggling to maintain employment will actively utilize this pilot project."

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