Delivery and designated-driver workers, who must cover 50% of premiums themselves, to receive up to 80% reimbursement for up to 12 months
Busan city announced Monday it will launch a special support program to subsidize industrial accident insurance premiums for platform workers, aiming to ease their financial burden amid prolonged high fuel and consumer prices and to strengthen the social safety net.
The city allocated 800 million won ($594,000) for the program in its third supplementary budget, passed Friday. The measure addresses the reality facing delivery and designated-driver workers, who — unlike salaried employees whose employers cover the full premium — must pay 50 percent of their industrial accident insurance premiums out of pocket, a burden that has deterred many from enrolling.
About 4,000 workers registered as industrial accident insurance subscribers among food-delivery, quick-service courier and designated-driver workers are eligible. The program will cover 80 percent of each worker's out-of-pocket premium for up to 12 months, with a maximum benefit of 200,000 won per person.
Applicants must reside in Busan as of Wednesday, the program's official announcement date, and must be working in food delivery, quick-service courier or designated-driver services as independent contractors. They must also be enrolled in industrial accident insurance and have a household income at or below 150 percent of the median income threshold based on national health insurance contributions.
Applications will be accepted from Wednesday through Oct. 2, either online or in person, and may close early if the budget is exhausted. Online applications can be submitted through the city's website (https://www.busan.go.kr/depart/platformworker). In-person applications will be accepted at three mobile worker support centers — in Seomyeon, Sasang and Haeundae — weekdays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the application period.
After verifying submitted documents and eligibility, the city plans to disburse payments to approved applicants in order of receipt, beginning in October.
kaf2002@heraldcorp.com
