The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Home care workers, after-school tutors to receive W500,000 in COVID relief

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 14, 2020 - 15:18

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Employment and Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on Monday, to announce a set of measures to protect and support essential workers delivering key front-line services amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap) Employment and Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on Monday, to announce a set of measures to protect and support essential workers delivering key front-line services amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
Around 90,000 home care workers and after-school tutors will receive 500,000 won ($458) in coronavirus relief funds from the government in the first half of next year, the labor minister said Monday.

The payment is part of a government plan to support essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap said during a virtual briefing from the administrative city of Sejong.

The essential workforce also includes health care workers, delivery workers and sanitation workers.

At President Moon Jae-in's orders, the government set up an interagency task force in October to come up with ways to protect and support such workers.

Home care workers are at high risk of infection while only earning 1-1.4 million won a month on average, the ministry said.

After-school tutors have also suffered financially as a result of the pandemic due to increased remote learning and canceled after-school classes, it said.

The relief funds will be drawn from COVID-19 donations given by the Korea Federation of Banks, the Korean Financial Industry Union and other organizations, the ministry added. (Yonhap)