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1. In order to provide the manpower needed for live-in caregiving and assist families with their caregiving needs the Ministry of Labor (hereinafter “the Ministry”)will through qualified trial service units (hereinafter “trial units”)provide short-term, temporary and continuous caregiving services to alleviate the burden of family caregiving. As such, this program is established in accordance with Article 56-2 of the “Review Standards and Employment Qualifications for Foreign Workers Engaging in Work Specified in Subparagraphs 8 to 11, Paragraph 1, Article 46 of the Employment Service Act” (hereinafter “the standards”).

2. Trial period and method of implementation:
(1)Trial period: The program will be implemented for three years starting from the date of its publication.
(2)Method of implementation: Units (hereinafter “applicant units”)that meet the qualifications detailed in Point 8 will submit a proposal for the Diverse Companionship and Care Services Program. After the ministry reviews and approves an applicant unit as a trial unit, the latter will hire both domestic and foreign diverse companionship care service workers (hereinafter referred to collectively as care workers)to engage in companionship and care services related physical work, as specified in the diverse companionship and care service contract (hereinafter the “service contract”).

3. Target group for the program: The service is for individuals who require companionship and care, and meet one of the following qualifications:
(1)Possess a valid disability certificate.
(2)Eligible for catastrophic illness coverage under the National Health Insurance program.
(3)Have a record of medical treatment or surgery record within the past three months.
(4)A care recipient eligible to employ a foreign worker to engage in live-in care work or intermediate skilled live-in care work.
(5)Individuals assessed by a Long-Term Care Management Center as requiring long-term care at levels 2 through 8, and in need of the services provided by this program.
(6)Other individuals designated by the ministry.

4. Services and work hours:
(1)Service items: The services provided by this program involve sending care workers to contracted service locations, where they provide service recipients with basic daily life care, including accompanying them when they go outside and to medical appointments, providing safety companionship, and other services approved by the ministry.
(2)Service hours: The duration of each service session detailed in the previous paragraph must be a minimum of four hours. For 24-hour care, there must be a 10-hour rest period, with work hours adjusted according to the needs of the care recipient and in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Standards Act.

5. Applications for services from this program in accordance with Point 3 are required to submit the following documentation:
(1)Service recipient qualifies under Point 3, Item 1: A valid disability certificate.
(2)Service recipient qualifies under Point 3, Item 2: A valid catastrophic illness card, or a catastrophic certificate inquiry result from the National Health Insurance mobile app (Quick Access/My Health Bank)or a diagnosis certificate issued within the past year indicating the need for convalescence.
(3)Service recipient qualifies under Point 3, Item 3: A diagnosis certificate issued within three months of the application date, indicating the need for convalescence.
(4)Service recipient qualifies under Point 3, Item 4: Valid certified documentation showing proof of eligibility to employ foreign workers, including a valid recruitment or employment permit.
(5)Service recipient qualifies under Point 3, Item 5: A long-term care assessment notification or a receipt from a long-term care contract unit with the name of the care package provided.
(6)Other documents deemed by the ministry necessary to verify the need for companionship and care.

6. The target individuals of this program can apply for services to a trial unit independently or through a third party.

7. The ministry may delegate professional organizations to handle follow-up, counseling, and inspection work related to the trial units under this program.