ID :
194419
Tue, 07/12/2011 - 07:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/194419
The shortlink copeid
Ruling party pushes to increase municipal welfare staff
SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) will seek a 30 percent increase in the number of welfare staff at local governments across South Korea by 2014 to ensure a smooth implementation of welfare policies, the party's chief policymaker said Tuesday.
As of last year, the number of welfare officials at local governments stood at 22,461, and the party plans to add 7,000 more. The move comes as the party seeks to implement a variety of welfare programs to woo voters ahead of next year's major elections.
"Currently, one social welfare official is charged with taking care of hundreds of people and cannot assess their individual situations well under these circumstances," Lee said in a party meeting. "We have to increase the number of officials in charge of social welfare so as not to jam the path of welfare services."
On Wednesday, party officials will have a policy coordination meeting with senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office and the ministries of finance, home and health to discuss specific measures to implement the plan, Lee said.
Although 86 trillion won (US$80 billion) was allocated for the welfare budget this year, nearly twice as much as the 2004 budget, the number of welfare staff rose only by 4.4 percent in the cited period, officials said.
As of last year, the number of welfare officials at local governments stood at 22,461, and the party plans to add 7,000 more. The move comes as the party seeks to implement a variety of welfare programs to woo voters ahead of next year's major elections.
"Currently, one social welfare official is charged with taking care of hundreds of people and cannot assess their individual situations well under these circumstances," Lee said in a party meeting. "We have to increase the number of officials in charge of social welfare so as not to jam the path of welfare services."
On Wednesday, party officials will have a policy coordination meeting with senior officials of the Prime Minister's Office and the ministries of finance, home and health to discuss specific measures to implement the plan, Lee said.
Although 86 trillion won (US$80 billion) was allocated for the welfare budget this year, nearly twice as much as the 2004 budget, the number of welfare staff rose only by 4.4 percent in the cited period, officials said.
