Gyeonggi Province Supports Elderly Employment and Quality of Life Through In-Office Side Dish Sales Event

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] Gyeonggi Province is contributing to increased income and job creation for elderly market-type business units through an in-office 'side dish sales event' designed to promote products from elderly employment programs.

The 'elderly employment market-type business unit' aims to create jobs and generate income for the elderly by having seniors with work capacity jointly operate small retail shops and specialized trade business units.

Recently, the business units have been facing significant operational challenges due to lack of stable sales channels and promotion issues caused by COVID-19.

In response, the province has been selling side dishes from the market-type business unit (Asak Taste Dream) operated by Siheung Senior Club to provincial office employees once a week since April last year.

Through 37 sales events to date, the unit has generated approximately 18.71 million won in sales.

The response from provincial office employees has been strong because they can purchase fresh side dishes made the same day using ingredients grown by the elderly themselves, and the elderly participating in the business unit are also highly satisfied through economic participation.

Mr. A, an elderly person participating in the elderly employment business unit, said, "Through economic participation, I maintain my health and have found vitality in my life. I'm so happy because I have a place to go to work. When I think that people are enjoying the food I make, I take pride in my work."

Jo Tae-hun, Head of the Elderly Welfare Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Going forward, we plan to strengthen promotion and support so that cities, counties, and public institutions throughout the province can participate in the event," and added, "In addition to this event, we will do our best to discover various new elderly employment opportunities and promote products to contribute to elderly income generation and a happy life."