"Namyang Dairy Products Obtained Pregnancy Waiver from Female Employee...Company Denies Allegations, Threatens Legal Action [2021 National Assembly Audit]"

Hong Won-sik, Chairman of Namyang Dairy Products, is attending the National Assembly's inspection of the Fair Trade Commission held by the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee on the 5th, listening to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jihwan] An allegation that Namyang Dairy Products obtained a 'pregnancy waiver agreement' from female employees in the early 2000s was raised at a national audit session.

Choi, an employee working at Namyang Dairy Products' Goyang Logistics Center, appeared as a witness at the Ministry of Employment and Labor's national audit by the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee on the 6th and stated, "When I joined the company, female employees were required to sign a pregnancy waiver agreement."

He joined Namyang Dairy Products in 2002 and returned to work in 2016 after taking parental leave in 2015. However, he is currently engaged in a lawsuit against the company, claiming that he faced personnel disadvantages such as being assigned tasks unrelated to his career and being transferred to a regional office after his reinstatement.

Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-duk said, "I believe the Ministry of Labor needs to thoroughly investigate the Namyang Dairy Products case," adding, "We will soon begin an unscheduled inspection."

Following the revelation of this testimony, Namyang Dairy Products issued a statement denying the claim, saying, "The testimony about the pregnancy waiver agreement is completely unfounded," and "The company will hold Choi legally responsible for spreading false information."