Suwon City Opens Comfortable 'Rest Center' for Mobile Workers

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] A 'Suwon Rest Center' has been established in the central shopping district of Ingye-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon City, where mobile workers such as courier drivers, designated drivers, and educational materials instructors can rest during breaks.

The city established the 'Gyeonggi Mobile Workers Suwon Rest Center' on the second floor of Sungbo Building at 18 Hyowon-ro 265beon-gil, Paldal-gu, and began partial operations on March 3rd.

The Suwon Rest Center was created to supplement the working environment and protect the rights of mobile workers—such as designated drivers and educational materials instructors—whose work locations are not fixed and whose work involves movement with inevitable waiting periods.

The Suwon Rest Center, with a total floor area of 348.59 square meters, is equipped with a general lounge, women-only lounge, café, convenience room, office, training room, and consultation room.

In particular, the convenience room is furnished with microwaves, water purifiers, and electric kettles, and also has mobile phone chargers to enhance convenience for mobile workers.

The lounge is also equipped with tables, chairs, and recliners, and houses Saem Café, a social enterprise that employs vulnerable groups including people with disabilities, where workers can enjoy beverages.

Additionally, the training room will conduct programs including labor rights education and labor consultation for workers in the future, as well as welfare protection programs such as psychological and health counseling.

However, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, only certain spaces such as lounges will be open for the time being, and full operations including group training room usage and program operations will proceed at a later date.

The Suwon Rest Center will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. the following day, taking into account mobile workers' working hours, and will be closed on public holidays and weekends.

Earlier, the city held a forum on measures to protect the rights of mobile workers at the end of 2018 and confirmed the necessity of establishing a rest center before establishing a development plan in February of the following year.

The city was selected in the 'Gyeonggi Province Mobile Workers Rest Center Installation Support Recruitment' held in August, securing 50% of the project budget (construction costs of approximately 260 million won and 2020 operating expenses of 200 million won) through provincial funding.

A city official stated, "Following the establishment of the Workers Welfare Center and Non-regular Workers Center, we hope that the opening of this mobile workers rest center will serve as a major foundation for improving working conditions, including the protection of workers' rights and enhancement of welfare."