Mandatory Worker Protection Bill Passed in Plenary Session… Kim Young-bae "Leading Efforts for Awareness Improvement"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The "Act on Designation of Essential Work and Protection and Support for Workers" (Essential Workers Protection Act), proposed by Representative Kim Young-bae, who has declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party of Korea's Supreme Council, was passed at the plenary session held on the 29th.

On the day, Representative Kim Young-bae stated, "It is fortunate that the bill to protect and support essential workers who risk their lives to perform their duties for the safety and daily lives of citizens during disasters such as COVID-19 has finally passed," adding, "I will take the lead not only in passing the bill but also in preparing practical support measures and raising awareness for essential workers."

Essential workers refer to those who quietly perform labor to maintain social functions and daily life even during the COVID-19 disaster, such as motorcycle delivery workers, sanitation workers, parcel delivery workers, medical personnel, and care workers. Despite the surge in workload since the spread of COVID-19, they are greatly exposed to risks such as manpower shortages, long working hours, poor working conditions, job insecurity, and infection risks.

Seongdong District Office in Seoul was the first in the nation to designate an ordinance for the protection of essential workers.

The Essential Workers Protection Act passed at the plenary session includes, as an alternative from the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, provisions such as ▲establishment of the Essential Workers Support Committee ▲designation of essential work by the Minister of Employment and Labor through deliberation by the Essential Work Designation and Worker Support Committee in case of disaster ▲formulation of regional essential worker support plans ▲conducting a survey on essential workers every five years ▲creation of hygiene and safety facilities for essential workers and support for quarantine supplies, employment insurance premiums, and industrial accident insurance premiums ▲and preparation of measures to secure appropriate working hours and improve working conditions for essential workers.

Representative Kim said, "I will continue to strive to produce realistic policies rooted in the field and sensitive policies that concretely help the lives of citizens."

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