Incheon Saseowon, Paid Sick Leave Support for Social Welfare Facility Workers Funded by National Budget

Within 60 Days Annually... Replacement Personnel Dispatched for Vacancies

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Incheon Social Service Agency's Social Welfare Substitute Workforce Support Center announced on the 20th that it will provide paid sick leave benefits to social welfare facility workers in the Incheon area, funded by the national government.

If a worker requires hospitalization, surgery, infectious disease infection, or outpatient treatment, paid sick leave benefits will be provided for up to 60 days per year with only a medical certificate or treatment confirmation. Substitute personnel will be dispatched to cover absences caused by sick leave to minimize work gaps. This system is currently implemented in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Daegu, and other regions.

Incheon’s paid sick leave support had previously been limited to city-funded facilities, but it has now been expanded to include nationally funded facilities. The target includes 321 facilities such as local children’s centers and protective facilities that comply with the Social Welfare Services Act. Priority support is given to residential facilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

Facilities not supported by national or city funds, as well as daycare centers governed by the Infant Care Act, elderly medical welfare facilities, and home-based elderly welfare facilities under the Long-Term Care Insurance Act for the Elderly, are excluded from support.

The Incheon Social Service Agency began entrusted operation of the Social Welfare Substitute Workforce Support Center in January and has been working to minimize work and care gaps by dispatching substitute personnel to social welfare facilities experiencing short-term vacancies.

The Social Service Agency project, promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, aims to strengthen the public nature of social services, improve the treatment of social welfare workers, and enhance professionalism and service quality. It is being established in 16 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide. The Incheon Social Service Agency was established as the ninth nationwide in December last year through the expansion and reorganization of the Incheon Welfare Foundation.

By 2024, it plans to operate about 20 facilities, including four comprehensive home care centers and national/public facilities.

Yoo Haesook, director of the Incheon Social Service Agency, said, "By supporting substitute personnel, we aim to provide social welfare facility workers with rest time while minimizing work and care gaps. We will do our best to ensure that care workers can deliver better services in a stable environment."

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