Jeongeup-si Provides 1 Million Won to 'Corporate Taxi Drivers' with Income Loss Due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil] Jeongeup City in Jeonbuk announced on the 28th that it will provide an additional 300,000 KRW from city funds to the 3rd emergency employment stabilization fund, which grants 700,000 KRW per person from national funds to corporate (general) taxi drivers whose sales have decreased due to COVID-19.

Initially, the support fund for taxi drivers was provided only to individual taxi drivers, classified as self-employed, in the form of 1,000,000 KRW New Hope Fund for Small Business Owners.

However, like individual taxi drivers, corporate taxi drivers are also experiencing difficulties such as a decrease in passengers due to COVID-19.

In particular, the difficulties have increased due to the ‘sanapgeum’ system, where drivers must pay a portion of their income to the company, leading to demands for support.

Accordingly, the city decided to provide a total of 1,000,000 KRW, including an additional 300,000 KRW from city funds, to actively reflect the hardships of corporate taxi workers whose sales have decreased.

The support targets approximately 207 general taxi drivers classified as employees belonging to corporate taxis.

Eligible drivers are those who joined before February 1, 2021, and continuously worked until April 2, 2021, or transportation workers whose personal income has decreased.

The 3rd support project significantly relaxed the employment duration requirement from 3 months in the 1st and 2nd rounds to 2 months to allow more beneficiaries.

The city plans to expedite the payment of support funds by simplifying administrative procedures, considering the purpose of providing income stabilization funds to vulnerable employment groups affected by COVID-19.

Mayor Yoo Jin-seop said, “I hope this support fund will help general taxi drivers who are facing great difficulties such as a decrease in passengers due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic to overcome their losses and stabilize employment, even if only a little.”

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