[2021 National Audit] Employment Minister An Kyung-duk: "Customized Support for Youth, Women, and Elderly... Gradual Expansion of Employment Insurance"

Job Creation and Expansion of Nationwide Employment Insurance

Focus on Reducing Industrial Accident Deaths and Workplace Harassment
Minister Ahn: "Efforts to Settle the Serious Accident Punishment Act Before Enforcement"

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk taking an oath during the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the morning of the 6th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] An Kyung-duk, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on the 6th, "We will provide young people with work experience opportunities through collaboration with private companies and offer tailored support for women and the elderly, while steadily promoting the phased expansion of employment insurance," outlining the key points of future policies.

Minister An said in his opening remarks at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee’s audit held at the Government Complex Sejong on the same morning, "Although the employment recovery trend continues, the job difficulties in face-to-face service industries and among youth, who were hit hardest by the shock, remain severe."

Regarding future policy priorities, Minister An presented five points: ▲ tailored support for vulnerable employment groups such as youth ▲ establishment of an employment safety net through phased expansion of employment insurance for all citizens ▲ workforce development and job transition support in preparation for industrial structural transformation ▲ enhancing the effectiveness of the workplace harassment prohibition system ▲ efforts to ensure field stabilization before the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act next year.

First, he announced plans to strengthen measures for labor market entry of vulnerable employment groups. Minister An said, "For young people who find it difficult to secure job opportunities, we will provide work experience opportunities through collaboration with private companies to help them enter the labor market quickly," adding, "Along with expanding the private sector’s capacity for job creation, we will steadily implement government job projects such as tailored support for women and the elderly, making every effort to create even one more job on the ground."

He also emphasized the phased expansion of employment insurance for all citizens. The government applied employment insurance to 12 types of special employment workers (SEWs), including artists in December last year and insurance planners in July this year, with the goal of expanding coverage to self-employed workers in 2023. Minister An said, "We will steadily promote the phased expansion so that employment insurance can firmly establish itself as a reliable safety net for the people."

He also pledged to improve issues such as workplace harassment and industrial accident incidents to create better workplaces. Minister An stated, "The revised law to secure the effectiveness of the 'workplace harassment' prohibition system is about to be enforced, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor will focus on field stabilization of the system, including expanding counseling centers," adding, "Ahead of the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act in January next year, we will thoroughly prepare, operate field support teams, and closely supervise hazardous work to ensure smooth field implementation."

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