Women’s Career Breaks ... Economic Activities Continue

Gyeongnam Provincial Council Proposes Full Revision of the Ordinance on Promoting Economic Activities of Career-Interrupted Women and Others

Gyeongsangnam-do Council Member Park Nam-yong.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] The Gyeongnam Provincial Council announced on the 1st that it will give prior notice of the full revision bill of the "Ordinance on the Promotion of Economic Activities of Career-Interrupted Women in Gyeongsangnam-do," which was primarily proposed by Assemblyman Park Nam-yong.

In response to the recent labor shortage caused by population decline, the participation of women in economic activities is urgently needed. However, government policies so far have been focused and limited to the reemployment of career-interrupted women.

Assemblyman Park, who primarily proposed the bill, explained the reason for the proposal, saying, "In a competitive society based on a free market economy, women's employment retention and reemployment are relatively more vulnerable," and "It is necessary to strengthen the preventive function to stop working women from interrupting their economic activities in the first place by presenting a fundamental policy direction that can guarantee sustainable economic activities for women."

This ordinance reflects the full revision of the higher law, the "Act on the Promotion of Economic Activities of Career-Interrupted Women," which has been changed to the "Act on the Promotion of Women's Economic Activities and Prevention of Career Interruption," aiming to strengthen support for preventing career interruption of women at the local government level and expand related policies.

The main contents of the full revision bill include changing the ordinance title to "Ordinance on the Promotion of Women's Economic Activities and Prevention of Career Interruption in Gyeongsangnam-do," stipulating the governor's responsibilities for administrative and financial support, and the employer's responsibilities for creating a labor environment to prevent career interruption and ensuring employment stability.

Additionally, provisions on the establishment of implementation plans, surveys, and support projects were included, and the basis for supporting the operating expenses of the designated "Women's Economic Activity Support Center" to promote women's economic activities was also specified.

Assemblyman Park said, "To increase the effectiveness of promoting women's economic activities and preventing career interruption, it is very necessary to expand the scope of beneficiaries of the policy support and provide customized support services that help employed women maintain their jobs even after marriage and childbirth, so they do not experience career interruption."

According to statistics released by Statistics Korea in 2021, South Korea is experiencing a serious low birthrate with a total fertility rate of 0.81 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime). Although the decrease in labor supply due to population decline was anticipated, women's economic activity participation rate and employment rate remain below the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

A table showing the economic activity participation rate and employment rate of Korean women.

This full revision ordinance bill will be given prior notice until September 7, and after going through the standing committee resolution during the 398th regular session of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council starting on the 13th, it is scheduled to be finally approved at the 4th plenary session on September 27.