Listening to Challenges of Balancing Work and Childcare
Emphasizing the Securing and Development of Female Talent
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the Samsung Electronics Suwon campus on the afternoon of the 6th and held a meeting with female employees who are balancing childcare.
[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the Suwon plant in Gyeonggi Province on the 6th, continuing on-site management by listening to the difficulties and challenges faced by female employees balancing work and childcare. This visit came a week after his last visit on the 30th of last month.
According to Samsung Electronics, during the meeting, Vice Chairman Lee listened to and exchanged opinions on changes in the work and home lives of female employees since the outbreak of COVID-19, as well as the difficulties they face as women. The conversation freely covered various topics such as work-life balance, promoting childcare sharing among male employees, and ways to develop female leadership.
At the meeting, Vice Chairman Lee said, "In the post-COVID era, significant changes are expected not only in industry but also in workplace and family life," adding, "Especially, the difficulties faced by women balancing work and childcare have intensified due to COVID-19."
He urged, "Let us take this opportunity to change not only the existing flawed systems and practices but also outdated perceptions," and emphasized, "Let us boldly correct what is wrong, insufficient, or lacking."
He also stressed the importance of securing and nurturing female talent. Vice Chairman Lee said, "Let us create an organizational culture where capable female talents can fully demonstrate their abilities, grow into next-generation leaders, and become role models."
Samsung stated that it has established and operates various systems to support pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare so that employees can smoothly balance work and child-rearing in a safe and comfortable environment.
In particular, this year, as an emergency measure, Samsung implemented full remote work for maternal protection personnel due to COVID-19 and allowed unlimited use of 'family care leave' to care for children.
As of last year, Samsung Electronics reported that the proportion of female employees was 40.2%, with the proportion of female executives increasing about ninefold from 0.76% in 2009 to 6.53% in 2019. The proportion of female managers also approximately doubled from 7.49% to 14.67% during the same period.
Meanwhile, on June 23, Vice Chairman Lee visited the Suwon Home Appliance Division and conducted an on-site inspection with key executives of the Consumer Electronics (CE) division on the development status of next-generation products applying new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and information and communication technology (IoT).
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