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President Moon Jae-in, all comments in the State Council
We will start the 53rd Cabinet Meeting
Viruses do not select people, but the socioeconomic crisis created by infectious diseases is not fair to everyone. Disasters come first for the weak and are most severe. That is why special emphasis must be placed on protecting the socially disadvantaged in response to the crown crisis.
The government has implemented policies to actively protect those most vulnerable to the crown crisis. To prevent the crisis from exacerbating inequality, we focus on policies to expand the employment safety net and the social safety net. We provide unprecedented policy measures such as emergency disaster grants, job maintenance grants, special youth job search grants, and desired new funding for small business owners, and expanding the scope of the basic provision of life. As a result, in the second quarter of the year, the distribution index improved as the income of the lower class increased more while the income of all classes increased.
Recently, ‘Oxfam’, a global organization helping the poor, cited Korea as a prime example of how to tackle the crown and solve inequality. In the ‘Inequality Alleviation Index’ of 158 countries, Korea ranked 46th, ten steps higher than two years ago. Although it is still largely insufficient, it can be said that the government’s efforts to improve inequality have been positively evaluated by the international community because the ranking has risen significantly.
However, there is still a long way to go. In times of crisis, it should not stop as a temporary phenomenon brought on by government subsidies. The inequality caused by the crown continues to threaten people’s lives in various fields. The representative is the new structure of inequality in the labor market. Corona is pushing the lives of workers in the blind spots of the existing system, including specially employed workers, to the edge of the cliff.
The problem of overwork among courier workers that has occurred one after another recently will be a good example. Please hurry to take special measures to prevent further regrets from happening.
The government has started to include new types of workers, such as specially employed workers, the self-employed and artists, as targets for emergency work support, and is constantly making efforts to expand employment insurance coverage, but it is still insufficient. Beyond temporary support, institutional protection is needed. To reliably reduce blind spots, the government hopes to further strengthen inspection and supervision of the working conditions of the working poor and propose sustainable measures.
Pay special attention to non-regular female workers who are forced to work face to face even in the coronavirus situation. Non-regular workers, such as caregivers, nursing workers, extracurricular teachers, housekeepers, and child care workers, with a particularly high percentage of female workers, are at risk of contracting corona infection.
Jobs are shrinking due to the coronavirus and he is suffering financially. Review the policies to alleviate the suffering of these people and provide the necessary support measures.
Resolving inequalities in care and education caused by the crown is also an important task. Careful and sophisticated political efforts are required to ensure that income gaps do not lead to gaps in care and education. In particular, with the protracted situation of the coronavirus, it is necessary to fully strengthen the child care system. Relevant ministries are urged to rapidly propose measures to improve the child care system during the spread of infectious diseases.
On the one hand, we need special attention to the most marginalized in our society. There has been unfortunate news that three people with developmental disabilities who have been quarantined in the last two months or who have lost their place to go due to the closure of the wellness center have passed away one after another. In accordance with the social distancing quarantine guidelines, it is noted that the cause is not receiving timely face-to-face care.
It is also a big problem that the amount of loneliness has increased significantly this year. The basic life receivers are more than half lonely. This is also being flagged as a result of inadequate face-to-face service while focusing on preventing the spread of infectious diseases. This is what happened when people who need to be more protected while prioritizing quarantine were placed in blind spots. Please take a closer look at the situation and take the necessary countermeasures quickly.
In difficult times, each ministry must reach out to the people and find answers in the field. The burden of crown pain is not the same for everyone. As a reassuring government that protects people’s lives, I hope that people who are suffering the greatest hardships due to the crown will be caring and warm-hearted.
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