The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups announced that the amendment to the 'Enforcement Decree on the Protection and Support of Small Business Owners' regarding the specific operation of public utility fee support for small business owners was approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 1st. The enforcement decree will take effect on July 22.
According to this amendment, small business owners will be able to receive support for public utility fees such as electricity, gas, and water. Support methods will include direct payments to small business owners or indirect support methods where public utility fee-levying agencies deduct support amounts from the utility fees charged. The support amount will be determined considering the extent of public utility fee increases and the burden of management on small business owners.
Additionally, the range of information that the government can request for disaster support for small business owners will be expanded. Previously, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups was able to request tax information and resident registration computerized data from the Commissioner of the National Tax Service, the Minister of the Interior and Safety, and heads of local governments. In the future, the minister will also be able to request the number of workplace subscribers enrolled in the National Health Insurance Service by business registration number from the chairman of the National Health Insurance Service. Furthermore, the minister will be able to request franchise information and monthly credit card payment amounts by credit card merchant from the head of the Korea Credit Finance Association.
Finally, the amendment of the enforcement decree establishes a clear basis for long-term partitioning repayment of policy funds for small business owners. If there is a possibility of increased loan repayment ability, regulations have been established to allow policy fund borrowers to apply for and review long-term partitioning repayment.
Hwang Young-ho, head of the Small Business Management Stabilization Support Division of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, said, "With the amendment of this enforcement decree, a clear basis has been established for public utility fee support and long-term partitioning repayment of policy funds for small business owners, and we will implement related policies without any issues." He noted, "In the future, we will execute policies based on accurate data during disaster support such as that for COVID-19."