Quick Service and Substitute Drivers Also Enrolled in Employment Insurance... Increase in Parental Leave Benefits

Unemployment Insurance Premium Rate Increased by 0.2%P
Industrial Accident Insurance Applied to Students Participating in R&D Projects

On April 26, at the National Service Industry Labor Union Federation conference room in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Kim Tae-wan, Senior Vice Chairman of the Courier Union, is seen speaking at the press conference titled "Power Harassment Apartments Exist Everywhere. We Will Solve It Together. A Press Conference with Courier, Delivery, and Quick Service Workers." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Starting January next year, quick service and designated driver workers will be able to enroll in employment insurance, and student researchers will also receive benefits from industrial accident insurance.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 28th that the Cabinet meeting reviewed and approved amendments to the Employment Insurance Act, the Act on the Collection of Insurance Premiums for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, and the Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act containing these provisions.

Among labor providers covered by employment insurance, two new occupations?quick service (including delivery agency) and designated driver workers?have been added to the existing 12 occupations such as insurance planners and home tutor instructors. Labor provision platform operators must report the acquisition and loss of insured status of quick service and designated driver workers by the 15th of the month following the occurrence of such events.

From next year, if subcontracted workers suffer industrial accidents and the responsibility lies with the primary contractor, the primary contractor’s industrial accident insurance premium rate will increase. Large corporations with frequent industrial accidents will not receive certain levels of premium discounts. Students participating in research and development projects at universities or research institutions will also be eligible for industrial accident insurance benefits. If a worker dies due to an industrial accident, depending on the type of accident, the bereaved family can receive funeral expenses in advance upon request even before the funeral is held.

Additionally, to promote paternity leave, if both parents take parental leave within 12 months of their child's birth, each will receive 100% of their ordinary wage (up to 3 million KRW per month) for the first three months. Previously, only one parent received 100%, and the spouse received 80%. For the parental leave period from the 4th to the 12th month, each will receive 80% of their ordinary wage (up to 1.5 million KRW per month). Previously, it was 50% of the ordinary wage (up to 1.2 million KRW per month).

The unemployment benefit (job-seeking allowance) insurance premium rate will increase by 0.2 percentage points, from 1.6% to 1.8% for general workers, and from 1.4% to 1.6% for artists and labor providers. This reflects the financial difficulties faced by employment insurance due to increased unemployment benefit expenditures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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