Social worker, Set off a signal to the “welfare state”
A voice goes beyond the area and the field 'Realization of social welfare state responsibility'
Promoting active policy through the launch of the 'Solidarity for Social Welfare Organizations'Social workers from the whole country cry out for 'welfare state'
Twenty-six social welfare organizations representing the Korean Social Welfare Society gathered tohold the '2019 Social Welfare Policy Convention'. The event was jointly organized by the Korean
Association of the Social Workers (The President, Oh Seung Hwan), and the Council of Korean SocialWelfare Facility Organizations (The Representative, Jang Soon Wook). To support the social workers’
cry, not only Minister of Health and Welfare Department, Park Neung-Hoo, but also Representativesof the four political parties including the ruling party, Assembly members of the Health and Welfare
Committee, and head of local governments came as guests.
In particular, on the day of the Convention, We social workers demanded four policies to become awelfare state. Such as ▲ Securing the average social welfare budget of the OECD nations ▲Improving the working environment of social workers ▲ Realizing the salary level of social workers
as the Social work civil servant ▲ Co-operation of Civil service and government. With these requests
the committee declared the launch of Solidarity for Social Welfare Organizations.

Social worker, solidarity and unity to enhance political power
President of the Korean Association of Social Workers, Mr. Oh Seung Hwan, said, "Meanwhile, wehave raised our voice with a focus on improving our rights and labor condition, we should now take astep further, participating in social issues and construct solidarity in order to achieve the welfarestate” and It is a historical day, as we, social workers, take the first step to declare the will and deliver
the demands to the government and the National Assembly to create a new welfare state. He
reaffirmed his commitment to reflect his four major policy agendas as social welfare pledges in next
year’s general elections and the 2022 presidential election.
In addition, The President Oh Seung-hwan told the attendees, “The policy and slogans are not limited
to today, but made into laws and institutions to be reflected in the budget.
These welfare states should not be left to the president, the government, or the National Assembly.
We can complete it when we are organized with political power. We must now overcome theactivities buried in demands and claims, and participate as a healthy subject of the welfare politics.”
He repeatedly called on the active participation and solidarity activities of social workers.

The government, Representative of political parties
It was the first convention which was attended by a large number of government officials andpolitical parties in the contest. The attendants were The Minister of Health and Welfare Department,
Mr. Park Neung-Hoo, Representative of the Democratic Party, Mr. Lee Hae-chan, Representative ofthe Free Korean Party, Mr. Hwang Kyo-An, Representative of the Right Future Party, Sohn Hak-Kyu
and Representative of Democratic Peace Party, Mr. Jung Dong-Young from government andassembly. The Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee in National Assembly, Mr Lee Myungsoo, Mayor of Seoul (Park Won-Soon), and Governor of Jeju island(Won Hee-ryong) also participatedand introduced the policies to improve the labor condition of social workers.

The guests pledged to support the four agendas presented based on characteristics of their parties.
Over 5,000 social workers gathered at the Jang Chung Gymnasium greeted to their responsible
answers.

Establishment of Solidarity of Social Welfare Organizations for welfare state
The highlight of the convention was the launch of the social welfare associations in which all thesocial welfare areas and functions were involved.
In the past, the solidarity was based on individual, and functional demand or budget and policies.
Now, we have formed a stronger voice through our holistic solidarity.
The declaration goes, “We are the professionals in social welfare field, who substituted the role andresponsibility of the government. We have witnessed the tears and sigh of people in the nearest
distance.
Our mission is to protect Right of welfare, with extensive effort to construct welfare state’s forgeneration.”