Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam's First Customized Support for Social Welfare Facility Workers

Introduction of Sabbatical Leave System, Flexible Time-Off System, and Childcare Leave

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam has finalized and is set to fully implement this year a treatment improvement project for social welfare facility workers to enhance their pride and establish a stable and high-quality inclusive welfare service foundation.

The treatment improvement project is a pledge of the 8th local government administration. Considering the increased welfare demand and the resulting higher workload for social welfare facility workers, 8.7 billion KRW will be invested to promote 11 projects across 4 sectors.

Changwon Special City Hall, Gyeongnam.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

First, starting this year, the city will introduce Gyeongnam’s first customized welfare points system to help social welfare facility workers achieve a balance between work and rest.

Welfare points will be provided to regular employees of social welfare facilities supported with operating and labor costs and senior welfare facilities established and operated by social welfare corporations (50,000 KRW for those with 5 to less than 10 years of service, 100,000 KRW for those with 10 or more years of service).

Accordingly, 1,049 workers at 265 social welfare facilities in the city can choose and use welfare items they desire, such as health management, self-development, and family-friendly options, through the customized welfare points.

Additionally, to prepare for injury accidents that may occur during work or daily life, accident insurance premiums will be newly supported.

Of the annual accident insurance premium of 20,000 KRW per person, 10,000 KRW is supported by the government, and the worker used to bear 10,000 KRW. However, from this year, Changwon City will fully cover the 10,000 KRW previously borne by the workers with city funds, benefiting 2,060 workers at 237 social welfare facilities in the city.

Furthermore, new measures such as child care leave (2 days), long-term service sabbatical leave, and hourly annual leave system will be implemented to support work-life balance through improved working conditions.

In addition, the city pays a monthly allowance of 200,000 KRW to workers and an 80,000 KRW qualification allowance to social workers, and supports 48,000 KRW per person for in-service training fees as well as domestic and overseas training vitamin camps.

Hong Nam-pyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, said, “By improving the treatment of social welfare facility workers who work on the front lines of welfare, we will boost their morale and provide high-quality welfare services,” adding, “We will continue to prepare various support measures so that each worker can become a happy welfare person.”

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