For Unfair COVID-19 Treatment, Contact the Workplace Moms Center

Asia Economy and Seoul City Joint Project [Towards Work-Life Balance 2.0]

35% Increase in Complaints About Worse Treatment Compared to Last Year
Labor Attorneys at Each Center Provide Support for Labor Rights Violation Consultations

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Seoul Working Moms Support Center announced on the 19th that it will operate the Working Moms Labor Rights Relief Team for working mothers who have suffered unfair treatment or damage in the workplace due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

According to statistics released by the Seoul Working Moms Support Center from January to April this year, the total number of consultations was 6,108, a 30% (1,409 cases) increase compared to 4,699 cases during the same period last year. Among these, 1,303 cases were related to unfavorable treatment, which is 345 cases (36%) more than the previous year. The unfavorable treatment category includes actual rights violations such as refusal to use maternity protection systems like pregnancy, childbirth leave, and parental leave, unfair transfers or refusal to reinstate, unfair dismissal, wage arrears, workplace harassment, and other labor law violations.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government views the significant increase in consultations during the first half of this year compared to previous years as meaningful. The Working Moms Labor Rights Relief Team judged that, amid the COVID-19 crisis, cases of complaints about various disadvantages and employment insecurity related to maternal protection for working moms are increasing, making dedicated personnel support urgent.

One certified labor attorney is assigned to each center in the Eastern, Southwestern, and Northwestern districts to provide one-stop dedicated consultation support, close assistance, and mediation between workers and employers regarding labor rights violations such as recommended resignation related to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, forced retirement, and dismissal. If necessary, the dedicated certified labor attorney can accompany clients to the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission, or assist with document review and preparation for written responses. For urgent COVID-19-related working moms labor rights relief consultations, please contact each Working Moms Support Center.