Why Did Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, Commend Essential Workers and Caregivers for the Elderly?

On Caregiver's Day, Three Home Caregivers in the Region Receive Commendations from the District Mayor... Honoring and Encouraging Caregivers' Hard Work, Contributing to Morale Boost and Respect for Care Labor

Award recipients and Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, who participated in the commendation ceremony

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) awarded the Mayor's Commendation to three visiting care workers in Seongdong-gu on the 30th of last month in celebration of the 13th Care Workers' Day.

The recipients were selected from among 1,350 care workers employed at long-term care institutions in Seongdong-gu, prioritizing those who contributed to the health promotion and care services for the elderly. They were recommended by the Seoul Care Workers Association and institutions, and after review by the Public Merit Review Committee, three were finally chosen.

The awardees include Mr. Wang ??, who is 74 years old this year and has been providing meal, bathing, and nursing services to two elderly individuals for eight years. Also recognized were Ms. Kim ?? and Mr. Do ??, who have been caring for elderly persons for ten years and were acknowledged for their exceptional dedication and sense of mission in providing devoted care.

The district aimed to comfort and encourage the hard work of visiting care workers who have silently maintained care services on the frontlines despite the COVID-19 disaster situation, contributing to boosting morale and raising awareness of respect for care labor.

In particular, in May, Seongdong-gu established an ordinance on improving the treatment and status of long-term care workers, providing a legal basis for enhancing their working conditions and welfare, and specifying responsibilities to improve labor environments and promote welfare, enabling the implementation of projects for treatment improvement and status enhancement.

The ordinance also stipulates that outstanding long-term care institutions and workers may be commended, making this commendation highly meaningful as a declaration of the commitment to the practical improvement of care workers' treatment.

Since September last year, the district has maintained continuous interest and support for essential workers through the first-ever ordinance in the nation concerning the protection and support of essential workers.

Among them, care workers, who are essential workers providing elderly care services, received ongoing support with a total of 270,620 masks and 14,991 hand sanitizers distributed over four rounds until April this year. The district plans to continue developing and implementing concrete measures to improve their treatment.

Mr. Wang ??, one of the awardees, said, “I am grateful for the continuous efforts to improve treatment following last year and for organizing this encouraging event. I ask for ongoing interest and support in the future.”

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, emphasized, “Although the demand for care in our society is explosively increasing, care workers responsible for providing care services on the ground work under poor conditions. Care workers, who play a pivotal role in elderly care, must receive fair evaluation and respect for the quality of care services in our society to improve.” He added, “As mayor, I will continue efforts to protect the rights and improve the treatment of care workers.”

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