Busan City will give a 200,000 won voucher every month to employees in
manufacturing jobs who have suffered from poor working conditions and low wages.
This move is intended to improve the quality of lives and raise productivity for
the workers who have had many difficulties such as family troubles caused by
intensive labor and low income.
The city government decided to start an ‘Employee Assistance Program (EAP)’
from next month. Under this program, a card-type voucher which can be used for
health and recreational purposes is provided to workers earning less than
2,330,000 won per month, the average income of city workers. Registered foreign
workers whose monthly income is less than 2,330,000 can also get the benefit
from the program.
With the voucher, the beneficiaries can receive such services as family consultation,
health check-ups, cultural experience activities, group activities and labor and financial
consultation. An extra expense should be covered by the recipients.
The quality services of the EAP will be provided by a consortium of four welfare
centers in the main industrial complex area—Gupyeong, Geumjeong, Nakdong and
Hakjang welfare centers— and a general hospital, a labor attorney’s office and
a culture related agency.
The city plans to spend a total of 770 million won to give benefits to 550
low-income workers over the upcoming four months from September to December
and will decide whether to expand the scope of the program next year after
evaluating the outcomes of this year.
The deadline for making application for September is 21 August. The services
will be provided for applicants who make registration by the 21st day of the
previous month. Workers who want to apply should submit a set of required
documents including the payment receipt of the national health insurance and
the certificate of employment to one of these offices—the Social Welfare Division
of Busan city government, Residents Livelihood Assistance Division of district
offices and the Eup, Myeon or Dong offices in Busan.
* For more information, contact Social Welfare Division (Tel. 051-888-2765).
