'Half Reduction in Industrial Accident Insurance Premiums for Substitute Driving and Quick Service'

Ministry of Employment Announces Legislative Notice for Amendments to Industrial Accident Insurance Act and Employment Industrial Accident Insurance Premium Collection Act Enforcement Decree
Temporary One-Year Application from July for High-Accident Special Employment Types
Exclusion from Industrial Accident Insurance Application Only for Reasons Such as Illness and Childcare

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Starting from July, special-type workers (teuksoohyeong geunro jongsaja, teukgo) will only be able to apply for exclusion from industrial accident insurance if they have reasons such as illness or childcare. Considering the increased burden of industrial accident insurance premiums, the government has decided to temporarily reduce the industrial accident insurance premiums by up to 50% for some special-type workers whose accident rates exceed 50%.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 23rd a legislative notice for amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the 'Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act' and the 'Act on the Collection of Employment and Industrial Accident Insurance Premiums' based on these contents.

According to the amendment, special-type workers in 14 occupations, including delivery drivers, can only apply for exclusion from insurance coverage if they do not work for more than one month due to illness, injury, pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, or if the employer is at fault, or if the employer suspends business for more than one month due to the spread of infectious diseases.

An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor explained, "Until now, special-type workers could apply for exclusion regardless of the reason, which led to many abuses such as employer encouragement or inducement, contrary to the purpose. Under the law, exclusion will only be approved when it is confirmed that the worker is actually not working, effectively resulting in the abolition of the system."

The Ministry plans to temporarily ease insurance premiums because restricting the reasons for exclusion applications may increase the insurance premium burden on employers who hire special-type workers. For high-risk, low-income special-type occupations with accident rates exceeding 50% of the industry average, premiums will be temporarily reduced by up to 50%. The Ministry intends to select target occupations considering premium burdens and the number of workers, with occupations such as substitute drivers, freight truck drivers, and quick service likely to be included. A ministry official said, "The premium reduction period will be announced later, but it is likely to be from the implementation date of July 1 to June 30 of next year, one year later."

Along with this, starting June 9, the government will fully allow industrial accident insurance enrollment for unpaid family workers. However, they must bear the full cost of the premiums. Also, considering the recent increase in industrial accident claims for noise-induced hearing loss in workplaces, the frequency of hearing tests to assess the degree of hearing loss and damaged areas will be significantly reduced from once a week to every 48 hours.

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap said, "With this amendment, the reasons for special-type workers to apply for exclusion from industrial accident insurance will be strictly limited, allowing about 450,000 workers who were previously excluded from coverage to be included."

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