Geunro Bokji Gong "Employment and Industrial Accident Insurance: Not a Choice but an Obligation" ... One Month Intensive Promotion

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service announced on the 4th that it will operate a one-month intensive campaign from the 5th to promote enrollment in employment and industrial accident insurance. This comes as the government accelerates the process of abolishing the exclusivity of industrial accident insurance for special employment types (teukgo) and platform workers, and plans to include quick service and substitute drivers in the employment insurance coverage starting January next year.

During the intensive promotion period, the Service plans to encourage small-scale businesses that have not enrolled to join under the premise that "social insurance in times of crisis is not a choice but an obligation." It emphasized that if employers do not enroll in social insurance, daily workers and part-time employees will not be able to receive employment retention support funds or unemployment benefits.

According to the Service, businesses that employ even one daily worker or other employees must mandatorily enroll in employment and industrial accident insurance within 14 days from the initial employment date. Enrollment is also recommended for one-person small business owners operating without employees.

Newly enrolling businesses must submit an insurance relationship establishment report within 14 days of the first employment of workers, artists, or teukgo workers. Existing enrolled businesses must submit a qualification acquisition (employment, entry) report to the Service by the 15th of the month following the month in which employment (or labor provision) occurred.

The Service also introduced the 'Durunuri' social insurance premium support project, a policy supporting low-income workplaces. The core of the system is that the government supports 80% of the employment insurance and national pension premiums for workers with an average monthly wage below 2.2 million KRW and employers in workplaces with fewer than 10 employees.

To apply for employment and industrial accident insurance enrollment and Durunuri premium support, electronic reporting can be done through the Employment and Industrial Accident Insurance Total Service website, or postal mail, fax, or written reports can be submitted to the regional headquarters and branches of the Service in the workplace's jurisdiction. Detailed guidance is available by contacting the call center.

Kang Soonhee, Director of the Service, said, "We will do our best to ensure that social insurance becomes a reliable pillar of hope for those going through difficult times due to COVID-19," adding, "The Service will continuously identify businesses that are subject to employment and industrial accident insurance but have not enrolled, and encourage enrollment of one-person small business owners to reduce blind spots."

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