Gyeonggi Province Launches '2021 Vulnerable Workers Organizing Support Project'...Applications Due by March 4

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province's 'Vulnerable Workers Organizing Support Project,' designed to help vulnerable workers who face difficulties joining labor unions to voice their rights protection concerns, is expected to accelerate worker self-help group formation and growth this year.

According to the province on the 25th, this project was first implemented in 2020 as part of Governor Lee Jae-myung's seventh-term philosophy of realizing 'a fair world where labor is respected.'

Last year, the project achieved notable results by fostering self-help groups including the 'Gyeonggi Central Apartment Workers Council' and 'Manufacturing Young Workers Preparation Group,' and resolving 460 million won in unpaid wages for 90 apartment workers.

Building on these achievements, the province plans to implement projects this year divided into two fields: ▲fostering support for new self-help groups (Type Ⅰ) and ▲organizational growth support (Type Ⅱ).

First, the 'fostering support for new self-help groups' field aims to help workers organize and develop new self-help groups, with plans to support 2-3 organizing projects this year.

In particular, the province plans to pursue more efficient organizing by distinguishing between two models: an 'industry-based' model such as regional activist meetings of proxy driver workers, and a 'region-based' model such as the Gyeonggi Central Apartment Workers Council based on cities and counties.

The 'organizational growth support' field involves selecting projects from 2020 operations that require continued support through evaluation and providing assistance to develop advocacy organizations such as mutual aid associations. The province plans to support 2-3 projects this year.

The plan is to propose development models tailored to each self-help group's work characteristics through consulting, establish multi-party consultation channels, and support networking formation with labor unions and other organizations to expand self-help group activities and promote joint projects and solidarity activities.

To this end, the province plans to invest a total budget of 250 million won, providing up to 50 million won per organizing project.

Specifically, it will support dedicated personnel to assist in organizing and fostering self-help groups, as well as expenses for consulting and monitoring, publicity, education and workshops.

Additionally, the province will establish a 'project implementation advisory panel' to hold regular monthly meetings, with advisory committee members providing one-on-one intensive support to each project to ensure smooth implementation.

The province plans to hold a forum in August to discuss organizational development directions based on project outcomes, and a final report meeting in November.

The province will recruit participating groups and organizations by March 4, then begin full-scale support from April.

Eligible applicants include Gyeonggi Province organizations under affiliated labor unions that are umbrella federations, Gyeonggi Province branches, chapters and sub-chapters of individual labor unions, and nonprofit organizations and groups with labor-management relations within the province. Participation through consortium formation is also possible.

Kim Kyu-sik, head of the Labor Division, said, "With Gyeonggi Province's labor union organization rate at only 4.3% and an increasing number of people facing difficulties joining labor unions, the purpose of this project is to help vulnerable workers speak with one unified voice through organizing." He added, "As the 2020 project showed substantial achievements and potential, we will support workers' development into advocacy organizations that can protect their own rights."