Seongdong-gu Supports 578 Million KRW for Improving Work Environment of Clothing Manufacturers

Up to 9 million KRW per company, totaling 578 million KRW, provided to improve poor working conditions of small businesses

Installation of fire extinguishers, heating and cooling systems, and air purifiers helps prevent fires and improve work efficiency

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) provides up to 9 million KRW per company to improve the poor working conditions of clothing manufacturing companies.

Seongdong-gu was selected twice in Seoul city public projects and will support a total of 74 clothing manufacturing companies?37 companies in the first round and 37 in the second?with 578 million KRW for work environment improvement expenses by the end of the year.

Most clothing manufacturing companies are located underground due to rental cost burdens, making ventilation difficult. In particular, dust and particles from fabrics accumulate on aging electrical equipment, increasing the risk of fire and threatening workers’ health.

Seongdong-gu is taking steps to improve the working environment and production facilities for sewing companies in such poor conditions. A total of 43 types of essential equipment, including fire extinguishers, heating and cooling systems, air purifiers, industrial vacuum cleaners, and cutting tables that enhance work efficiency and productivity, are eligible. Up to 9 million KRW per company is supported, with companies bearing 10% of the total cost.

In Seongdong-gu, more than 2,000 clothing sewing companies are gathered around Hongik-dong and Doseon-dong, and various supports continue. In 2021, the Seongdong Smart Fashion Center was opened, operating a smart shared cutting room equipped with automated cutting facilities. Additionally, last year, the district became the first nationwide to establish a career certification system that certifies the experience of skilled workers who worked long-term without labor contracts at small businesses but had no official labor records.

By the end of this year, Seongdong-gu will expand and relocate the Seongdong Smart Fashion Center. The relocated center will not only provide existing automated cutting services but also support the opening of online shopping malls for sewing companies to sell their self-produced clothing and operate a studio for product photography.

Mr. Kim, selected in the first round in the first half of the year, expressed gratitude, saying, “This year was unusually hot, and I was worried about how to get through the sweltering summer, but I’m glad I can work under a cool air conditioner.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “I hope this will be of some help to local clothing manufacturing companies and workers struggling due to the economic downturn,” and added, “We will continue to create a more pleasant working environment to protect the health and safety of workers.”

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