Opened in Namyangju on January 6 by integrating the Job Center, the Employment Center and welfare agencies into one

Guests cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the Namyangju Employment and General Welfare Center  on January 6. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

The opening ceremony for the Namyangju Employment and General Welfare Center, which provides one-stop services for job and welfare issues, was held on January 6.

The Namyangju Employment and General Welfare Center is the first one-stop service center in Korea in which previous administration systems – divided among the Job Center, the Employment Center and welfare agencies – are integrated.

Previously, as employment and welfare services had been separately provided by the Job Center, the Employment Center and community service centers, residents felt some confusion regarding which agency they should visit for the services they want. In particular, they had to undergo the inconvenient, time-consuming process of visiting the Employment Center for unemployment benefits while going to the Job Center to look for employment.

With the Employment and General Welfare Center, residents will be able to receive customized services from employment to welfare matters with only basic consultations.

The following officials attended the opening ceremony: Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo; Security and Public Administration Minister Yoo Jeong-bok; Employment and Labor Minister Bang Ha-nam; Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyeong-pyo; and Gender Equality and Family Minister Cho Yoon-seon. The ceremony included a status report and a welcoming address, followed by the ratification of a business agreement among the representatives of agencies participating in the Namyangju Employment and General Welfare Center ribbon cutting and unveiling.

The unveiling ceremony. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

“I would like to thank the relevant departments and public officials for their efforts in cooperating for the convenience of residents,” said Governor Kim. “I hope you will continue to show your interest. I am confident that this one-stop job service will significantly resolve resident inconvenience.”

“The Namyangju Center will be a model for all employment and general welfare centers in Korea,” said Employment and Labor Minister Bang Ha-nam. “Congratulations on taking the first step in the history of new employment and welfare services.”

Gyeonggi Province decided to promote spatial integration of job-related agencies at a meeting of the Committee on Advancement of Gyeonggi Province last May, and introduced the necessity and an outline for implementing the Employment and General Welfare Center (based on service results provided by the Economic Development Research Center) at the nationwide city and county vice heads meeting in August.

Then, in September, the province proposed specific policies to the Ministry of Security and Public Administration and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The agreement to establish the center was reached in October following 17 business conferences with relevant officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and job centers in the cities and counties.

The Employment and General Welfare Center provides comprehensive employment services such as job training and employment support. It also receives applications and provides initial consultations related to welfare services, including welfare benefits, connecting such requests to related services at city offices and the Hope Care Service.

Of particular note, future promotion of joint projects such as information sharing, integrated case management by individuals, and job fairs is also expected to eliminate inefficiencies among agencies and create synergy effects.

Gyeonggi Province will build another Employment and General Welfare Center in Dongducheon this year for residents in northern Gyeonggi regions such as Dongducheon, Yeoncheon, and Pocheon, as well as for residents in Cheorwon of Gangwon Province. Gyeonggi is planning to operate the Employment and General Welfare Center so that the integrated center, combining the Job Center and the Employment Center, expands throughout the entire country.

Representatives of participating agencies of the Namyangju Employment and General Welfare Center pose for a commemorative photograph after signing a business agreement. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

ⓒGyeonggi G-News | Lee Jun-gyun eyekle@hanmail.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201401061712197055C052&s_code=C048