Recruitment of Female Family-Type Preliminary Social Enterprises... Until March 19

Providing Support for Recruitment, Business Development Expenses, and Consulting Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is recruiting 'Preliminary Social Enterprises for Women and Families,' which are companies with the potential to develop into social enterprises in the fields of women, family, and youth, providing financial support and market access assistance.

On the 24th, the Ministry announced that applications for the first half of 2021 for Preliminary Social Enterprises for Women and Families will be accepted from the 25th until March 19th. After on-site inspections and evaluations of the applicants, the designated companies will be announced in May.

So far, the Ministry has designated 119 companies as preliminary social enterprises, and 18 companies have transitioned to certified social enterprises. The designation process, previously conducted once a year, will now be divided into two periods: the first and second half of the year.

Companies designated as Preliminary Social Enterprises for Women and Families will receive financial support for three years, including job creation support, professional workforce recruitment support, and business development funds, as well as market access support. Additional assistance includes company diagnosis, certification transition support, customized management consulting, and support to strengthen product and service competitiveness.

Eligible companies are those conducting business activities to realize social objectives in the relevant fields. They must meet organizational requirements according to Article 8 of the Social Enterprise Promotion Act. The fields include employment and entrepreneurship support for women with career interruptions, youth independence support, enhancement of women's safety and crime prevention, support for multicultural family settlement, and expansion of social participation for marriage immigrant women.

However, starting this year, companies designated as preliminary social enterprises by government ministries cannot be doubly designated as 'Preliminary Social Enterprises for Women and Families' if they have already been designated as regional preliminary social enterprises.

Kim Jongmi, Director of the Women's Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stated, "It is necessary to focus on fostering the social economy, which pursues both marketability and social value, as a new source of women's job creation." She added, "We will actively support preliminary social enterprises to contribute to solving social problems with creative ideas and to grow into social enterprises in the future."

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