3^rd Meeting of Central Economic Response Headquarters

17^th Ministerial Meeting on the Economy

 

Government to Provide 1.56 Million Public Sector Jobs

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki presided over the 3^rd Meeting of the Central Economic Response Headquarters, that is the 17^th Ministerial Meeting on the Economy, held on May 14.  Plans to increase public sector jobs were a main topic of discussion as the economy has been losing jobs since March this year.  Ministers also discussed ways to develop an infection control industry. 

 

The following is a summary of DPM Hong’s keynote address.

 

Create 1.56 million public sector jobs

 

The April job data, released yesterday, showed more job losses from the previous month.  Although the government has responded to a weak job market by running a range of job support programs from employment retention and job creation support to unemployment benefits and emergency reliefs, the April data told us that we need to provide jobs to absorb shocks in the labor market.  The government will work to create 1.56 million jobs in the public sector as a follow up to the 10 trillion won employment support announced in the 5^th Emergency Economic Council Meeting held on April 22.

 

1.56 million public sector jobs

 

- Work to fast create 945,000 jobs planned this year, out of which more than 600,000 jobs to be outdoor or remote positions

- Provide more than 550,000 jobs for young adults and low income earners, which include remote jobs, tech jobs and positions in SMEs

- Add 48,000 permanent jobs to the public sector

 

Action plans will be discussed at the next meeting and financed with a 3^rd supplementary budget.  The government will continue to help create private sector jobs, working to boost demand and improve regulations. 

 

Work on employment policies

 

The National Assembly passed last week a bill for artists to be included in unemployment insurance.  We will work to further expand unemployment insurance to platform workers, free lancers and other contract workers.  On top of that, we will improve the country’s employment policies taking into consideration growing remote workers and tech jobs.

 

Topics of discussion

 

1) Plans to provide more than 1.56 million public sector jobs

 

2) How to develop an infection control industry:  Make plans according to the three stages of prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and develop a system to support the whole process

 

- Prevention:  Develop a prognosis model using AI and big data, build an infectious disease DB, and work on key equipment manufacturing

- Diagnosis:  Provide research bodies with human resources and equipment, and help SMEs and ventures produce test-kits

- Treatment:  Promote R&Ds of treatments and vaccines, as well as clinical trials and manufacturing of the products

- Support system:  Build hospitals and research institutes specializing in infectious diseases, and work for Korea’s pandemic control model of “Test-Trace-Treat” to be adopted by the international community

 

Please refer to the attached pdf