Gyeonggi Province Industrial Accident Insurance Support for Delivery Workers Receives 2,747 Total Applications in First Year

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] Gyeonggi Province has completed all three rounds of recruitment for the 'Industrial Accident Insurance Support Project for Delivery Workers,' which was introduced this year as the nation's first such initiative.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 19th that the third round of applications for the '2021 Industrial Accident Insurance Support Project for Delivery Workers' received 183 applicants during the 26-day application period from October 18 to November 12.

Following recruitment across three rounds from April this year, a total of 2,747 applicants (841 from the first round, 1,723 from the second round, and 183 from the third round) applied, surpassing the support target of 2,000 recipients and demonstrating once again the keen interest and support from delivery workers.

Among the third round applicants, food delivery workers accounted for the largest share at 90.2% (165 people), followed by those combining food delivery and quick delivery services at 8.2% (15 people), and quick delivery service workers at 1.6% (3 people).

New enrollees comprised 48% (88 people) of applicants, and those unaware of their industrial accident insurance enrollment status accounted for 21.3% (39 people).

Reasons for application were personal preference at 33.9% (62 people) and employer recommendation at 50.3% (92 people).

The 'Industrial Accident Insurance Support Project for Delivery Workers' is a new labor policy developed by Gyeonggi Province in response to the increased work intensity and risk levels for platform delivery workers due to COVID-19 and the expansion of digital platform labor, despite the lack of institutional protective measures for these workers.

The project supports food delivery workers and quick delivery service workers in the province by covering 90% of workers' industrial accident insurance premiums. The insurance premium support period extends up to one year and is retroactively applied from January this year.

The province plans to conduct verification procedures with the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service and the National Health Insurance Service regarding enrollment and payment records for third round applicants before disbursing support funds to individuals.

Payment is scheduled for the end of December. Applicants and business owners must complete premium payments by the 10th of each month, the deadline for four major insurance premiums.

The province has enhanced convenience by enabling direct applications through PC and mobile platforms and simplified required documents to encourage greater participation from delivery workers. Additionally, it operates an advisory committee with platform operators and labor unions, conducting promotions through self-built networks and applications.

Particularly since the second recruitment period in July, when the requirements for exemption from specially-employed workers' industrial accident insurance became stricter, effectively making enrollment mandatory, and with the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act starting next year, the province focused its promotional efforts on these factors.

This project is expected to significantly contribute to increased industrial accident insurance enrollment rates among delivery workers, disaster prevention and protection for delivery workers who have been excluded from the social safety net, and recovery of self-esteem and improved perception as professional workers.

Kim Jong-gu, Director of the Labor Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "We hope this project will help prevent industrial disasters and provide compensation for delivery workers who are in safety blind spots," adding, "We will continue to do our best to create a safe working environment where labor is respected."