Software Freelancers Also Included in Industrial Accident Protection for Special Workers... Over 66,000 Beneficiaries

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Freelancers working in the software industry will be able to receive industrial accident insurance benefits starting this July.

On the 5th, the government reviewed and approved two Ministry of Employment and Labor-related legislative bills, including the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, at the Cabinet meeting.

So far, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has continuously expanded the scope of industrial accident insurance coverage for special-type workers (teukgo) who have a high need for protection against work-related accidents.

Freelance developers working in the software industry had been excluded from protection despite the high risk of work-related accidents due to long working hours and the strong willingness of workers to be covered by industrial accident insurance.

With this amendment to the enforcement decree, software freelancers have become the 15th teukgo occupation eligible for industrial accident insurance. The Ministry of Employment and Labor expects that about 66,000 software freelancers will benefit from this.

The industrial accident insurance premium rate is approximately 0.007%, with employers and workers each paying half monthly. Assuming a monthly salary of 3 million won, the monthly industrial accident insurance premium is about 21,000 won.

The amended enforcement decree is scheduled to take effect from July 1, considering the preparation period for employers.

Meanwhile, at the same Cabinet meeting, the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Occupational Safety and Health Act was also approved. As a result, the validity period of the "Night Work Special Health Examination Institution System," which was set to expire in January this year, has been extended by two years.

Workers performing night work in areas without special health examination institutions can receive examinations at night work special health examination institutions for an additional two years.

Night work special health examination institutions designated before January 1, 2021, must be re-designated by the competent local office by the 17th. If the re-designation application is not submitted, the designation will be canceled on the 18th.

The government plans to provide related information through the competent local offices.

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