Naju-si Supports Rental Costs for Dormitories of Workers in Innovation Industrial Complex

Published 13 Feb.2024 10:28(KST)

Naju City in Jeollanam-do is accepting applications for a dormitory rental cost support project for workers employed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in the Innovation Industrial Complex until the 29th of this month.

According to the city on the 13th, this project was newly developed last year and is being promoted to resolve labor shortages through the stable settlement of workers at SMEs within the industrial complex and to support business management amid the economic downturn.

Panorama of Naju Innovation Industrial Complex. [Photo by Naju City]

Initially, from 2018 for four years, partial costs were supported through selection in the national and provincial government-funded project called the ‘Regional Industry Customized Job Creation Support Project,’ but support was discontinued in 2022 due to the project sunset. Since last year, the city has allocated full funding to continue support.

If a business owner rents residential dormitories such as apartments, villas, one-room units, or officetels within the jurisdiction and provides them to workers, the city supports 60% of the monthly rent cost (up to 150,000 KRW) to the company.

The eligible businesses are SMEs located in the Innovation Industrial Complex that have completed (partial) factory registration.

The rental cost support is provided for up to four workers per company, with a maximum of 150,000 KRW per person per month.

Regarding worker conditions, they must be Korean workers employed for less than five years (after January 1, 2019), and 25% of all applicants must be newly hired workers with less than 12 months of employment.

In other words, when applying for dormitory rental costs for four workers, at least one must be a newly hired worker.

Applications can be submitted by filling out the application form and attaching the required documents posted in the announcement section on the city hall website, then visiting and submitting them to the City Hall Job Economy Division.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “We expect that the stable housing life of workers at industrial complex resident companies will improve, as well as the employment stability of companies.” He added, “Along with rental cost support, we will implement various policies such as operating industrial complex shuttle buses, participating in exhibitions (fairs), and providing secondary support for SME development funds to create a business-friendly city and a company and job-friendly city where workers can take pride in their work and settle down.”