Workshop for Minister-Level Officials of Social Departments Held... Discussions on Employment and Social Safety Nets

Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Social Ministry Ministers Gather
Discuss Cooperation Plans for This Year's Social Policy Direction Issues

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The government will expand nationwide employment insurance to self-employed workers starting in 2023 and prepare support measures to protect vulnerable workers in line with digital transformation.

On the 27th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a ministerial-level workshop for social ministries at the National Human Resources Development Institute branch in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, attended by the Prime Minister, ministers of social departments, and the Blue House policy chief.

This workshop was organized to share the achievements of the innovative inclusive nation pursued during the Moon Jae-in administration, to supplement shortcomings, and to discuss cooperation plans for major issues announced in the '2021 Social Policy Directions' released last January.

In the first part, under the theme of the four-year achievements and future directions of the inclusive nation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Employment and Labor presented the current status and future plans for building and operating social safety nets and employment safety nets.

The future plans related to the employment safety net include promoting nationwide employment insurance, early stabilization of the National Employment Support System, protection of vulnerable sectors such as essential workers, institutionalizing lifelong vocational skill development support for all citizens, and establishing a fair labor mobility transition system.

Enrollment in nationwide employment insurance will target 12 special-type workers in specific occupations from July this year and platform representative occupations from next year. The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to apply it to self-employed workers from 2023 after social dialogue.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced future directions for social safety net policies, including identifying vulnerable groups and crisis households, responding to child abuse, and alleviating the national medical expense burden. They plan to promote pregnancy and childbirth support measures such as the 'First Meeting Package' and reform the health insurance system.

In the second part, under the theme of this year's social policy issues, presentations were made on ▲ measures to strengthen the environmental safety net (Ministry of Environment) and ▲ talent cultivation plans for future cars, bio-health, system semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI) (Ministry of Education).

Each ministry will share the current issues they are pursuing this year and discuss essential collaborative tasks and contentious issues, aiming to establish and operate a close cooperative system that transcends departmental boundaries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "To resolve social inequality, stratification, and social conflicts, it is important to establish the foundation of core inclusive policies, prepare a basic framework across society, and pursue it unwaveringly." She urged, "To close the gaps caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, social-related ministries should view social problems from an integrated perspective and derive solutions through collaboration."

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