"Reversed Vocational Training Policy".. Incentive Reduced from 300,000 Won to 110,000 Won

Looking into the Vocational Competency Development Training Support Incentive Raised to Blue House National Petition
Temporary Increase Introduced Early This Year Due to COVID-19 Crisis Not Extended Amid Worsening Situation

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "The government says it encourages vocational training, but it is cutting the training support incentives by more than half compared to this year. Isn't this a contradictory national policy?"

Although next year's national budget will increase by 8.9% to 607 trillion won compared to this year, the vocational competency development training support incentives directly related to jobs are set to be drastically reduced. The government currently provides trainees with a monthly incentive of up to 300,000 won to be used for meals and transportation, but next year this amount is expected to be cut to 116,000 won.

The government has announced that it will end next year the expanded training incentive support and reduced self-payment measures introduced earlier this year to encourage vocational training, which had worsened due to the COVID-19 crisis, with the aim of contributing to job creation. Those who wished to receive education and educational institutions are voicing opposition, saying it is a decision that does not align at all with the worsening COVID-19 situation compared to earlier this year. The photo shows a vocational training classroom.

Those considering vocational training have reacted with disbelief. On the Blue House's National Petition website, a post has been uploaded requesting a change to this regressive policy.

According to the Blue House National Petition page, a post titled "Realization of Private Vocational Training Support Policy Training Fees and Training Incentives Going Against COVID-19" was posted on the 21st and has currently received about 2,700 endorsements. The petitioner pointed out that it is well known that support for vocational training, which acts as an employment safety net, should be strengthened especially during difficult economic times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, it has been revealed that the government decided not to extend the temporary increase measure for vocational training incentives introduced earlier this year and to terminate it. As a result, the support amount for vocational training participants will inevitably revert to 116,000 won per month, the same as last year. Additionally, the 15% reduction in the personal cost-sharing rate for vocational training, where individuals bear part of the expenses, will also end.

Due to this, vocational training institutions are criticizing the indiscriminate termination of support amid the worsening COVID-19 situation. The petition also conveyed the atmosphere that "Above all, the birth rate, which forms the basic foundation of vocational training demand, is declining, and due to social distancing measures from COVID-19, classes can only be held at 30-40% capacity, making it difficult to recruit trainees and causing many to drop out midway."

The petitioner raised their voice, saying, "The COVID-19 situation is incomparably more severe now than when the temporary measures were implemented earlier this year," and added, "It is an unreasonable action to revert all temporary measures at once when additional support is still insufficient."

In particular, the petitioner pointed out that training fees and incentives, which were set based on standards from 10 years ago, should have already been adjusted to reflect current realities regardless of COVID-19, and that making policy decisions disconnected from reality during the worst crisis is inappropriate and urged timely improvements. The petitioner strongly demanded the realization of training fees and incentives, stating, "While 3.2 million small business owners nationwide are scheduled to receive 1 million won each, most vocational training institutions do not even qualify as small business owners."

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