Gyeonggi Province Supports Dual-Income Households with Housekeeping Services Up to 750,000 Won

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province is implementing the 'Worker Housekeeping Service Support Project' this year, following last year's initiative, to provide housekeeping services to worker households and support workers in securing personal rest and leisure time.

The 'Worker Housekeeping Service Support Project' targets dual-income workers with children 18 years of age or younger, with private service providers selected by Gyeonggi Province offering services such as house cleaning and laundry, while the province subsidizes a portion of the service fee per session.

This year's eligible recipients are female workers with children 18 years of age or younger and dual-income male workers employed at 53 companies certified by Gyeonggi Province as family-friendly enterprises and women employment-excellent companies.

This year's budget is 120 million won, an increase of 30 million won compared to last year's 90 million won, allowing a total of 132 workers to use the services. Last year, 70 workers received service support.

To reduce the burden on users, the subsidy per service session per worker has been increased from 35,000 won last year to 50,000 won. Users can receive cost support for up to 15 sessions annually, totaling up to 750,000 won.

Gyeonggi Province has divided the province into six regions and selected five housekeeping service providers. Considering COVID-19 quarantine measures and hygiene management preparation periods, the province plans to begin the project in earnest this month.

Meanwhile, according to the 'Gyeonggi Province Work-Life Balance Awareness Survey' conducted by Gyeonggi Province last year, stress from insufficient personal time due to housekeeping and childcare activities was identified as the most significant factor hindering work-life balance. Over 80 percent of survey respondents answered they would be willing to use such services if partial subsidies for housekeeping service fees were provided.

Jung Gu-won, chief of Gyeonggi Province's Work-Family Support Division, stated, "Through a demand survey of eligible workers in April, we continuously considered how to reduce the burden of housekeeping and childcare within worker households," adding, "We hope this project will greatly contribute to workers maintaining both a happy workplace and family life."