Ministry of Gender Equality to Announce Family-Friendly Certification Criteria by End of May
Certification Restrictions to Reflect Companies Involved in Social Controversies
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From this year, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that encourage paternity leave for men will receive more points during the family-friendly company evaluation.
On the 12th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it has revised the family-friendly company certification evaluation criteria, increasing the bonus points for 'male paternity leave' usage in the SME evaluation indicators from 5 points to 8 points.
At the same time, certification for companies causing social controversies will be restricted. The family-friendly certification criteria reflecting these changes are scheduled to be announced at the end of May.
The family-friendly certification system operated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family refers to granting certification to companies and public institutions that exemplary operate family-friendly systems to support work-life balance, according to Article 15 of the Act on the Promotion of Creating a Family-Friendly Social Environment. Since its implementation in 2008, the number of certified SMEs increased to 2,839 last year.
A 2018 survey showed that the operation of the family-friendly certification system resulted in effects such as improved worker satisfaction (61.1%), increased worker productivity (49.2%), improved work attitude (45.8%), enhanced corporate productivity (43.5%), and reduced turnover rate (43.4%).
On the afternoon of the 13th, Deputy Minister Kim Kyung-sun of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to visit Poonglim Muyak, a family-friendly certified company located in Jung-gu, Seoul, to review the COVID-19 response and the operation status of family-friendly systems, and to listen to the opinions of companies and workers.
Deputy Minister Kim said, "Family-friendly management is a foundation that allows SMEs to attract excellent talent and encourage long-term employment of workers," adding, "We will support more companies to participate in family-friendly certification, practice family-friendly management, and enable workers to use family-friendly systems guaranteed by laws and regulations with peace of mind."
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