Support for Postpartum Recovery and Newborn Care
New Psychological Stability Leave Established for Disaster Site Officials
When giving birth to twins or other multiple births, the paternity leave provided to male public officials will be extended by five days, from the current 10 days to 15 days. This decision reflects the recognition that the husband's role is important in supporting the mother's recovery and caring for the newborn. Additionally, special leave for psychological stability and mental recovery will be newly established for public officials working in hazardous environments such as disaster and accident sites.
The Ministry of Personnel Management announced that the amendment to the National Public Officials Service Regulations (Presidential Decree), which includes expanding paternity leave for male public officials in cases of multiple births, passed the Cabinet meeting on the 11th.
For female public officials giving birth to multiples, maternity leave has been extended from 90 days to 120 days considering recovery time, whereas paternity leave has been granted as 10 days regardless of the number of children, as a form of condolence leave.
However, as the social atmosphere recognizing that husbands helping with the mother's recovery and jointly caring for the child is fundamental to overcoming the serious ultra-low birthrate has emerged, criticisms have been raised regarding the uniform paternity leave without distinction between single and multiple births. The Ministry of Personnel Management accepted this issue and extended paternity leave to 15 days and increased the number of times it can be used in splits from once to twice.
The expansion of multiple birth paternity leave will be implemented simultaneously from the 18th for all national, local, and military public officials, with related laws also amended by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (Local Public Officials Service Regulations) and the Ministry of National Defense (Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Status and Service of Military Personnel).
Through this amendment, the Ministry of Personnel Management also established psychological stability leave for public officials who have experienced traumatic accidents while performing dangerous duties such as directly handling accidents at disaster and accident sites, to support their initial psychological stability and mental recovery.
It is expected that public officials who handle severe disasters and accidents will be able to take psychological rest and secure time for counseling and treatment at specialized institutions. In addition, improvements such as granting additional annual leave to public officials who joined based on long private sector experience will also be implemented.
Kim Seung-ho, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, said, "This amendment reflects the diverse voices of public officials working in the field," and added, "We will continue to improve working conditions so that public officials at policy sites can work more energetically."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
