Gyeonggi Province to Support Young Workers at SMEs in Industrial Complexes with 50,000 Won Monthly Transportation Allowance

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 11th that it will implement the "2021 Industrial Complex Youth Transportation Support Project" to address labor shortages at SMEs in industrial complexes and promote youth recruitment.

This project, which has been fully funded by national treasury since July 2018, aims to reduce transportation cost burdens for young workers employed at SMEs in industrial complexes with poor transportation infrastructure and promote youth recruitment and address job mismatch issues.

The core of the project is to provide monthly transportation vouchers of 50,000 won to young people aged 15-34 employed at SMEs in industrial complexes with poor transportation conditions.

The vouchers can be used for buses, subways, intercity and express buses, taxis, fuel, and electric vehicle charging.

Although the project was originally scheduled to end at the end of last year, it has been extended this year through a cost-sharing arrangement between national and provincial funding (80% national, 20% provincial) to help resolve labor shortages at SMEs in industrial complexes and maintain youth employment.

Gyeonggi Province will support a total of 104 industrial complexes this year. These were selected through surveys on transportation conditions at industrial complexes and consultations with specialized institutions such as the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, considering factors such as distance between industrial complexes and urban areas, subway access, and bus accessibility.

Eligible applicants are young workers aged 15-34 employed at SMEs located in the designated industrial complexes. For those who have completed military service, the age limit can be extended by the length of military service (maximum 5 years).

Young workers wishing to receive the support can directly access the Online Youth Transportation Support System (card.kicox.or.kr), register as a member, and apply individually. The application period runs from January 10 this year until the budget is exhausted.

After receiving applications, the Industrial Complex Corporation, which operates the project, will review the applicant's employment at the SME, age, lease contract, and employment insurance subscription status before proceeding with support.

Ryu Kwang-yeol, Director of the Economic Division, said, "I hope this youth transportation support project for SMEs in industrial complexes will serve as a bridgehead to improve the poor transportation conditions in industrial complexes, promote youth recruitment, and smooth labor supply and demand, thereby overcoming the economic crisis."