[Changes in 2022] Infant Allowance of 300,000 Won up to Age 2... Quick Service and Substitute Driver Covered by Employment Insurance

Government Publishes 'Changes Starting from 2022'

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Starting January 1 next year, infants aged 0 to 1 year born after that date will receive a monthly infant allowance of 300,000 KRW. Special employment workers (teukgo) such as quick service and substitute drivers will be added to the employment insurance coverage. The amount of national scholarships for children from basic and near-poverty households as well as low-income and middle-class families will be increased.

The government published "Changes in 2022" on the 31st, summarizing the institutional and legal changes effective from next year.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will provide a one-time "First Meeting Voucher" worth 2 million KRW to children born after January 1 next year, starting from April 1 next year. The usage period is one year from the child's birth date (resident registration date). For infants aged 0 to 1 year born after January 1 next year, a monthly infant allowance of 300,000 KRW will be given. This will be supported in the form of vouchers for childcare fees and child care support funds when using daycare centers or full-day child care services. The child allowance, which currently provides 100,000 KRW monthly, will expand the eligible age from 7 to 8 years starting April next year.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will add quick service and substitute drivers working on platforms, such as delivery workers, to the employment insurance coverage starting January 1 next year. They will be able to receive unemployment benefits and maternity/paternity leave benefits. This is part of the "Universal Employment Insurance" policy to support the employment safety net for those previously excluded from employment insurance, including special employment workers, artists, and self-employed individuals. Additionally, for quick service and substitute drivers and business owners in workplaces with fewer than 10 employees earning less than 2.3 million KRW per month, 80% of the employment insurance premium will be paid.

The Ministry of Education will increase the amount of national support funds starting next year. The system that provided 5.2 million KRW annually to all children from basic and near-poverty households will be changed to support 7 million KRW annually for the first child and full tuition support for the second and subsequent children. For families with three or more children, full tuition support will be provided for the third and subsequent children. For low-income and middle-class families divided into eight income brackets, the payment amounts for brackets 5 and 6 will increase from 3.68 million KRW to 3.9 million KRW annually, bracket 7 from 1.2 million KRW to 3.5 million KRW, and bracket 8 from 675,000 KRW to 3.5 million KRW.

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