Yuk Jeong-mi, Daegu City Councilor: "Four School Meal Cooks Diagnosed with Lung Cancer... City Education Office's Response Inadequate"

Daegu City Council Written Policy Question

"Active Support Needed for Finance and More"

Yuk Jeong-mi, a member of the Daegu City Council (Democratic Party, proportional representation), pointed out the inadequate response of the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education to school meal workers diagnosed with lung cancer through a written inquiry on the 25th, urging more active measures and support such as compensation for the difference between industrial accident leave benefits and average wages.

According to data from the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, one cook and three kitchen assistants, who are educational public officials in the Daegu area, were diagnosed with lung cancer, and one of them received approval for industrial accident compensation.

Yuk Jeong-mi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea in the Daegu City Council

Councilor Yuk criticized, “The actual support provided by the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education to school meal workers diagnosed with lung cancer is at an insufficient level, limited to ‘notification of industrial accident occurrence reporting system and medical care benefit application procedures,’ ‘approval of sick leave,’ and ‘issuance of documents requested by workers,’” and urged the Daegu Office of Education to “actively support so that school meal workers diagnosed with lung cancer can smoothly receive industrial accident compensation services as stated in the basic school meal plan.”

Councilor Yuk also stated, “Even if lung cancer is recognized as an industrial accident, since the leave benefits are about 70% of the monthly average wage, there is a loss of income, making it difficult to receive treatment with peace of mind,” emphasizing the need for financial support in this regard.

She added, “The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education claims that there is no basis in laws and employment regulations for educational public officials to support the difference in leave benefits due to industrial accidents, but in other metropolitan offices of education such as Seoul and Busan, matters regarding compensation for the difference are included in the employment regulations for educational public officials,” and strongly urged, “The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education should also include provisions on compensation for the difference in leave benefits in the employment regulations to financially support victims of industrial accidents.”

Finally, Councilor Yuk requested, “The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education should not shift the health and safety issues of school meal workers onto individuals but clearly establish responsibility as a higher authority and not neglect related duties,” asking the Daegu Office of Education to make efforts with a more proactive attitude.

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