The South Korean government has amended the country's employment insurance to include gig and platform workers and extended the eligibility criteria from weekly hours to monthly pay, reported the Chosun Biz.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL)in a cabinet meeting has reviewed and approved partial amendments to the Employment Insurance Act and the Act on the Collection of Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Premiums.
Going forward, delivery drivers and other special-type workers, platform workers, and freelancers will also be able to enrol in employment insurance. Beginning 1 January 2027, employment insurance, which only workers who worked 15 hours a week could enrol in, will now include anyone who meet a certain pay standard.
Accordingly, the standard for collecting employment and industrial accident insurance premiums will also change from average monthly pay to actual pay. Going forward, premiums will be assessed using income information employers file each month with the National Tax Service.