SUWON — Gyeonggi Province said on the 9th that it is recruiting companies through the 13th to participate in the "Social Solidarity Economy Youth Work Experience Pilot Program," aimed at expanding youth employment in the social solidarity economy sector and easing labor shortages at businesses.
The program is a pilot project introduced this year for the first time by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. It aims to provide young people with hands-on job experience in the social solidarity economy while offering companies opportunities to discover future talent.
Eligible participants include (prospective) village enterprises, (social) cooperatives, and nonprofit corporations and organizations related to the social solidarity economy with fewer than 10 employees, all based in Gyeonggi Province.
Selected companies will receive up to approximately 2.96 million won per youth per month for five months. The support covers labor costs, employer contributions to the four major social insurance programs, operating expenses, and mentor allowances.
Participating youth must be unemployed residents of the province aged 19 to 39. Gyeonggi Province plans to recruit a total of 272 young people this month. Selected participants will work on-site five days a week, eight hours a day. They will also receive job training, counseling, and monitoring.
Of the province's 31 cities and counties, 27 are taking part in the program. The Gyeonggi Social Economy Center will oversee operations, while participating cities and counties will handle company recruitment and subsidy payments.
"We will build a foundation where young people and businesses grow together, so that it leads to the revitalization of the social solidarity economy and enhanced regional vitality," said Song Eun-sil, director general of Gyeonggi Province's Social Innovation Economy Bureau.
