Why Did Seongdong-gu Become the First in the Nation to Sign Agreements with Companies Recognizing Care Work Experience?

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Signs Agreement with 12 Companies to Expand Issuance of Childcare and Caregiving Career Certificates & Seongdong-gu Chamber of Commerce Leads Official Recognition and Employment Support... Dongjak-gu Selected as Excellent Institution in Child Policy Impact Assessment, Awarded Minister of Health and Welfare Prize...
Gangdong-gu Introduces Smart Disinfection System Using IoT Technology for Safe and Healthy Childcare Environment ▲ Facial Recognition for Infants and Visitors to Check Fever ▲ Parents Receive Arrival and Departure Notifications

On the 5th, the signing ceremony between Seongdong-gu and 12 companies (center: Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu)

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) held a signing ceremony on the 5th with 12 companies that officially adopt the Career Recognition Certificate, which recognizes time spent on caregiving such as childcare and nursing as career experience.

This signing ceremony was organized to promote the rights and interests of women with career experience.

The main contents include ▲ Official recognition of Seongdong-gu Caregiving Career Recognition Certificate ▲ Support for social advancement and employment/startup of women with career experience ▲ Projects to improve awareness of women with career experience and promotional cooperation.

The companies participating in the agreement include a total of 12 companies such as Gounet and Lohas Happy. The district plans to grant additional points for the Small and Medium Business Development Fund loan project to the contracted companies and award the ESG management certification plaque, a recently spotlighted management strategy.

Since November 2021, Seongdong-gu was the first in the nation to enact the Ordinance on Respect and Promotion of Rights of Women with Career Experience in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and has developed the system through dozens of meetings with companies early on.

Additionally, it has held contests and campaigns with women-owned companies, published impact reports featuring cases of women with career experience who found employment, and designed a career recognition program that meets the completion requirements for the Career Recognition Certificate based on corporate feedback.

Furthermore, a Career Women’s Rights Committee involving various stakeholders from business, labor, and academia was formed to promote and decide related policies. Moreover, in May, the Seoul Metropolitan Government Seongdong-gu Gender Equality Basic Ordinance was amended to issue career recognition certificates to men upon corporate request to spread gender-equal caregiving.

Heo Beom-mu, chairman of the Seongdong-gu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CEO of Gounet, who serves as vice chairman of the Career Women’s Rights Committee, said, “Raising children and caring for the elderly and patients are essential and important tasks not only at home but also in society, but their value has not been recognized in reality. I admire and appreciate the Seongdong-gu administration for recognizing the precious value of ‘caregiving’ and establishing legal measures and systems. I am proud to operate a company in such a place,” expressing his thoughts on the agreement.

Jung Won-oh, mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “We will carefully develop policies for women with career experience so that they can do what they want anytime and anywhere, and actively discover support measures to encourage corporate participation in the future,” adding, “Through this agreement, we will create a society where everyone’s experiences and capabilities are properly respected.”

Photo from the "Public-Private-Academic Agreement Ceremony for the Psychological and Emotional Development and Welfare Promotion of Children in the Local Community" held on August 3rd (from left: Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak District; Yoo In-sook, Director of Dongjak-Gwanak Education Office; Hong Seon-kyo, Head of Good Neighbors Seo-in Region Headquarters; Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak District)

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) was selected as an excellent local government in the ‘2022 Child Policy Impact Evaluation Self-Assessment’ hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Child Rights Protection Agency, receiving the Minister of Health and Welfare Award.

The ‘Child Policy Impact Evaluation’ is a system where local governments self-assess the impact of various laws, plans, and projects directly or indirectly related to children on children’s rights and reflect the results in appropriate policy formulation.

The district was recognized for excellent achievements in ▲ Ordinance on Promoting the Right to Play for Children in Dongjak-gu, Seoul ▲ Establishment of an operation plan for child participation organizations to activate child participation ▲ Community child mental health prevention project ‘Mind Todak Body Gauge,’ and was the only district in Seoul to receive the award.

Especially, this year’s new project ‘Mind Todak Body Gauge’ attracted great attention as it supports pre- and post-management and guardian counseling linkage through a public-private-academic cooperative system to help children form a positive self-concept.

Also, the district is making various efforts to create a sustainable culture of respect for children and raise awareness of children’s rights aiming for UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification.

Park Il-ha, mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, “We will accelerate efforts to obtain UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification by establishing and implementing policies from the child’s perspective,” adding, “We will continue to strive to create an environment where all children are not marginalized and are respected.”

Lee Su-hee, Mayor of Gangdong District

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) is building an ‘Integrated IoT Facial Recognition System for Children’ using the Internet of Things (IoT) at local daycare centers to create a safe and healthy childcare environment.

This ‘Integrated IoT Facial Recognition System for Children’ is being promoted after being selected for Seoul’s ‘Daycare Center Infectious Disease Prevention Environment Construction’ contest project and will be installed in nine daycare centers (public, private, and home-based) in the area.

The system recognizes the faces of infants and visitors to check for fever and other conditions, sending real-time text messages to parents about attendance and arrival/departure times.

Additionally, it monitors indoor air quality in real-time, including temperature, humidity, and fine dust inside and outside the daycare center, helping maintain a comfortable childcare environment.

The district explained that since fever measurement and attendance management are automated, it will reduce the workload of childcare staff.

Lee Soo-hee, mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “By building a smart infectious disease prevention environment using IoT, not only will quarantine efficiency improve, but the workload of childcare staff will be reduced, enhancing the quality of childcare.”

Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno District

Jongno-gu (Mayor Jung Moon-heon) is recruiting ‘childcare helpers’ to look after children when working parents or guardians are absent.

As part of the Jongno-gu Family Center’s ‘Childcare Support Project,’ the district selects caregivers who will treat children under 12 years old with warm love and attention as if they were their own children, aiming to ease the burden on guardians.

Main duties include ▲ guiding children’s play and learning ▲ escorting children to and from school and childcare facilities ▲ assisting with supplies ▲ managing children’s health. Work hours are up to 8 hours per day from Monday to Saturday, within 40 hours per week, with activity allowances and holiday bonuses provided.

Applicants must reside in Jongno-gu, be able to use the internet and smartphones, and be able to work throughout the district.

Those wishing to apply can download the application form and personal information consent form from the Family Center website and submit the documents via email to the person in charge.

Successful candidates will be selected through a first document screening followed by a second aptitude and interview screening. The document screening verifies the listed experience, motivation, caregiver qualities, and personality, while the second screening considers volunteer spirit and continuity of activity.

Those who pass the second screening will complete 80 hours of related training, participate in 20 hours of practical training in user homes paired with senior caregivers, and then begin providing services in earnest.

Details on allowances and more can be found on the Jongno-gu Family Center website or by contacting the Elderly Women and Multicultural Birth Support Team.

Mayor Jung Moon-heon said, “We are looking for childcare helpers who will care for children with warm interest, love, and consideration as if they were their own children when parents are absent,” adding, “We will strive to operate care, counseling, and education that enhance the happiness of all family members with the Family Center as the hub.”