Construction workers' families to receive up to 500,000 won in birth support

Construction worker families who have a child this year will receive up to 500,000 won ($368) in birth congratulatory support. The benefit provides 300,000 won for a first child, with an additional gift package for second and subsequent children.

The Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association announced it will launch a "new family (birth) congratulatory support" project to ease the burden of early child-rearing costs, with applications opening Thursday.

The total support value is 300,000 won for a first child, the equivalent of 400,000 won for a second child, and the equivalent of 500,000 won for a third child or beyond. The cash grant is 300,000 won in all cases, with second-child applicants receiving an additional gift package worth around 100,000 won and third-child-or-beyond applicants receiving one worth around 200,000 won.

Eligible applicants are construction workers who have had a child on or after Jan. 1 this year and meet the association's retirement mutual aid contribution requirements. Workers must have accumulated a total of at least 252 contribution days as of the application date, with at least 100 days accumulated in either the most recent 12 months or the previous calendar year. They must also be registered as retirement mutual aid subscribers as of the child's date of birth.

Female workers may apply if they have accumulated at least 100 contribution days over the most recent 24 months, in recognition of the impact of pregnancy. The association said it has expanded support for multi-child families this year and relaxed eligibility criteria to broaden the pool of beneficiaries.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting Thursday. Workers can apply online through the "Construction E-eum" mobile app or website, or in person at association branches and centers, or by email, mail or fax.

A family relations certificate must be issued in the applicant's own name and submitted within three months of the application date, with the last digits of the resident registration number redacted. Depending on the submission method, additional documents — including an application form, a copy of identification, and a personal information consent form for the child — may be required.

Workers who have already received or are in the process of claiming retirement mutual aid benefits at the time of application, or who have previously received the association's birth support for the same child, are ineligible. Even if both spouses in a construction worker couple meet the requirements, only one may apply.

The association said it hopes the program will help reduce welfare blind spots by accounting for the frequent job-site moves and address changes that characterize construction workers' lives.

Association Chairman Jang Geon said he hopes "this project will help celebrate the birth of new family members for construction worker households and ease the burden of early child-rearing costs," adding that the association will "continue to expand tailored welfare services across different life stages."