Welfare for foreign workers starts in Gyeonggi-do

Gyeonggi-do, first province in Korea to promote general support for foreign workers

Gyeonggi-do is the first province in Korea to promote welfare support to foreign workers.

Foreign workers have contributed in covering the lack of man power in small and medium-sized companies by working in 3D industrial environments, and have also played their part as members of the local economy. But no special public services, such as personal rights, medical care, education, and other benefits have been provided until now.

The central government and some local autonomous entities have partially supported foreign workers with culture events, medical treatment, and accident precautionary measures in the past, but Gyeonggi-do is the first to devise a general support plan focused on services desired by foreign workers.

Gyeonggi-do announced that this support plan for foreign workers will be provided to stir up their morale and also uplift business competitiveness.

In order to do this, the provincial government took a census of the foreign workers and actual conditions of the support plan since the end of last year. Support program has been discussed based on public services most needed by foreign workers. The final plan includes 40 services in 9 fields.

The 9 fields include the construction and support for a foreign worker welfare center, Korean language education, establishing a system for fire prevention and emergency measures, child birth and school, medical support, improvement on personal rights, dissolving cultural differences and adaptation support, repatriation support, and finally benefits for foreign workers working in agricultural environments. 2~7 policies will be enforced and about 6.1 billion won will budget for 30 projects. (See table.)

11 projects are already budgeted and non-budget projects are on schedule. 19 projects that need additional financial support will be backed up with the policy promotion maintenance subsidy. 

Father Lee Young from the Foreign Worker Welfare Center in Namyangju commented “Most foreign workers are having difficulties with language, medical care and other welfare matters. Gyeonggi-do’s support plan at this point of time is greatly appreciated and welcomed.”

An exclusive department handling administrative support services for foreign workers will also be established. A new welfare project based on the research corps results from the ？¿？¿¡§？¿Research on foreign worker living conditions and policy demands within Gyeonggi-do？¿？¿？¿？？ will be developed and promoted.

An government official said, “Through this support plan, foreign workers who were neglected from their rights and welfare will now recover a high morale, competitiveness of business will rise and the lack of human power in the agricultural industry will be replenished.”

This opportunity is another step towards Gyeonggi-do’s motto, “Gyeonggi Global Initiative”.