Parental Leave 'Split Use Twice'... Passed in National Assembly Bill Subcommittee

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The number of times parental leave, currently limited to one use, can be split will be increased to two.

On the 23rd, the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee held a subcommittee meeting on the Employment and Labor Act and passed the "Amendment to the Act on Gender Equality in Employment," which increases the number of times parental leave can be split from the current one to two.

Previously, the government also proposed a "Parental Leave Activation Plan," including this measure, through the second phase of the inter-ministerial Population Policy Task Force (TF).

Along with this, the amendment includes provisions to allow parental leave during pregnancy and to supplement the current prenatal and postnatal leave, which is limited to 44 days before childbirth.

Additionally, to promote the use of corporate maternity protection systems, companies that use parental leave or reduced working hours during childcare will receive initial support payments (100,000 KRW per month) for 1 to 3 times.

The Act on Gender Equality in Employment, which passed the subcommittee on this day, must go through the full Environment and Labor Committee meeting, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the plenary session.