Discussions started on Nov. 12 inside a labor-management-government activity power (TF) to reform employment insurance coverage protection standards from “working hours” to “revenue”-based requirements for the introduction of “Nationwide Employment Insurance coverage.”
The Ministry of Employment and Labor launched the Employment Insurance coverage System Enchancment TF and held its first assembly on the Royal Lodge in Myeong-dong, Seoul. The TF was established to design an efficient future employment security web via enlargement of subscriber protection, enchancment of unemployment advantages, and securing fiscal soundness as employment insurance coverage marks its thirtieth anniversary.
Members mentioned income-based employment insurance coverage reform on the first assembly. This represents efforts to enhance the present employment insurance coverage system, which is designed round staff, to guard all working individuals.
When enrolled in employment insurance coverage, people can obtain job-seeking advantages (unemployment advantages) throughout job search intervals when unemployed, and maternity depart advantages and pre- and post-natal depart advantages throughout childbirth.
The present employment insurance coverage system focuses on staff who work lengthy hours at a single office. The present employment insurance coverage enrollment standards require working greater than prescribed working hours (15 hours per week, 60 hours monthly) at one office.
The core of the reform is to vary these standards to income-based requirements, enabling ultra-short-time staff and a number of job holders (individuals who work two or extra jobs concurrently) to enroll.
Throughout the operational interval, discussions will sequentially tackle △employment insurance coverage protection enlargement △income-based reform △unemployment profit system enchancment △fund fiscal soundness △insurance coverage administration effectivity enhancement.
Particularly, the agenda will cowl at present pursued employment insurance coverage protection standards reform and corresponding utility and assortment system enhancements, strengthening prevention and detection of fraudulent advantages, and simplifying insurance coverage reporting utilizing tax info.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor goals to current complete employment insurance coverage system reform measures by June subsequent 12 months via TF discussions.
By means of the employment insurance coverage fund carried out on July 1, 1995, staff can make the most of △employment stability and vocational functionality growth applications △unemployment advantages △childcare depart advantages △pre- and post-natal depart advantages.
Employment insurance coverage has undergone quite a few institutional modifications. Protection expanded to workplaces with a number of workers in 1998, and artists past wage staff grew to become eligible in 2020, adopted by service suppliers in 2021, and platform staff in 2022. Final July, authorized amendments reformed employment insurance coverage protection standards from working hours to revenue, enabling enrollment for part-time short-term jobs.
Nonetheless, criticisms emerged that irregular staff and particular employment staff stay in employment insurance coverage blind spots.
Accordingly, the Nov. 12 assembly additionally mentioned employment insurance coverage enrollment for not solely staff but in addition artists and repair suppliers.
The TF plans to handle complete employment insurance coverage system enhancements, with conferences held biweekly in precept.
Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun said, “Now we should put together the way forward for employment insurance coverage primarily based on understanding and cooperation between labor and administration,” including, “I ask labor, administration, and consultants to work collectively in order that employment insurance coverage can defend extra working individuals extra successfully.”
