81% Employment Retention Achieved by Providing Salary Support to Career-Interrupted Women Scientists and Engineers

Korean Women in Science and Technology Support Center, Recruiting Companies and Participants from the 2nd
Up to 23 Million KRW Annual Salary Support... 73.2% Regular Employment Creation with Replacement Workforce Support

File photo. Not directly related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A project supporting wages and the employment of substitute personnel to prevent career breaks among women scientists and engineers has shown significant effectiveness.

According to the Korea Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology on the 3rd, as a result of last year's support project for the career return of women scientists and engineers and the utilization of substitute personnel, a total of 398 women scientists and engineers returned to jobs in the research and development (R&D) field. In particular, most of them (81.1%) maintained their jobs even after the end of government support. Among the 41 substitute personnel deployed for employees on maternity and childcare leave, the proportion hired as regular employees was also as high as 73.2%.

The support center recruits companies and women scientists and engineers to participate in the 'Women Scientists and Engineers R&D Career Return Support Project' and the 'Science and Technology Field R&D Substitute Personnel Utilization Support Project' four times a year. This year, recruitment of participating personnel and companies began on the 2nd.

The 'Women Scientists and Engineers R&D Career Return Support Project' is a project that supports education and research expenses (wages) to help women scientists and engineers who have experienced career breaks due to childbirth, childcare, family care, health, contract expiration, etc., return to the science and technology R&D field. The target applicants are holders of master's or doctoral degrees in science and engineering or those with equivalent qualifications, who have had a career break or no economic activity for more than six months as of the application date. For three years, wages of up to 21 million KRW per year for master's degree holders and up to 23 million KRW per year for doctoral degree holders are supported.

The 'Substitute Personnel Utilization Support Project' supports substitute personnel during the maternity and childcare leave of current employees. When substitute personnel are hired to fill the resulting work gaps, wages and training expenses are supported. Support is also provided when using reduced working hours due to COVID-19, and support is extended to male employees on childcare leave. The support amount is up to 21 million KRW per year for bachelor's and master's degree holders and up to 23 million KRW per year for doctoral degree holders.

Cha Eun-ji, head of the R&D Career Return Support Team at the support center, said, "Due to COVID-19, balancing work and family and securing jobs for women have become even more difficult. We will actively communicate about the difficulties faced by women with career breaks and the needs of companies to increase satisfaction on the ground and do our best to create a sustainable ecosystem for the growth of women scientists and engineers."