Gov`t to spend 16 bln won to help SMEs hire qualified workers

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- The government said Sunday that it will spend 16 billion won (US$12.4 million) next year to help small- and medium- size enterprises (SMEs) hire qualified workers.
The money will be an increase from the 13 billion won allocated this year and
will go towards the hiring of 350 new workers, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy
said.
The support measures are designed primarily to hire research and development
personnel that are vital for a company's competitiveness and growth. Because SMEs
usually do not have a lot of cash they are hard pressed to hire and retain the
kind of workers they need.
It estimated that counting the 793 people hired by SMEs this year, a total of
1,143 skilled workers would benefit from the additional support.
Creating jobs is a top priority of the Lee Myung-bak administration in the new
year, with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance aiming for 100,000 new jobs in
2009.
The target is much lower than an earlier estimate by the ministry that said
between 200,000-300,000 new jobs could be created in 2009. The lowered figure is
expected to adversely affect unemployment numbers.
The Bank of Korea, meanwhile, forecast that only 40,000 new jobs would be
created, with growth falling into negative territory in the first half before
making a comeback later in the year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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