Gyeonggi Province Conducts First Survey on Freelancer Support Policies

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will conduct the '2020 Gyeonggi Province Freelancer Actual Conditions Survey', which will serve as the foundation for improving the work environment of freelancers and establishing substantive support measures. This is the first actual conditions survey on freelancers.

This survey is being conducted to prepare support measures for freelancers who are in legal protection blind spots and experiencing difficulties. Until now, freelancers, while holding a position similar to that of workers, have not been recognized as workers under current labor-related laws such as the Labor Standards Act, and have often been unable to receive support for unfair practices. Additionally, the actual conditions of freelancers by industry and scale have not been properly understood.

In this survey, the province plans to ▲investigate the scale and working conditions of freelancers by industry in Gyeonggi Province ▲investigate major unfair practices related to freelancers such as contracts, income, and compensation, and prepare support measures accordingly.

The province plans to complete the actual conditions survey by identifying the scale by industry in July, and publish a final report by October through policy direction setting and expert consultations.

In addition, the province plans to hold expert discussion forums and conduct meetings with active freelancers in the province regarding work conditions along with this actual conditions survey. The province has also decided to establish a comprehensive freelancer support plan for Gyeonggi Province that can provide practical help to freelancers by the end of this year and prepare a standard contract.

Kim Ji-ye, head of the Fair Economy Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "This survey is an actual conditions investigation for establishing an institutional safety net for freelancers working in the province," and added, "We will conduct a thorough investigation to prepare support policies that can provide practical assistance to freelancers' living stability."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province enacted the 'Gyeonggi Province Freelancer Support Ordinance' in August of last year to proactively respond at the local government level to the growing freelancer issue due to worsening employment and changes in job types.