Songpa-gu, Improving Childcare Staff Treatment to Achieve High-Quality Public Childcare

▲Welfare Expenses ▲Holiday Bonus ▲Long-term Service Allowance Increased by a Total of 3.8084 Billion KRW... ▲Expanded Support for Operating Costs Including Nursery Staff Salaries Totaling 3.936 Billion KRW... Leading Efforts to Boost Childcare Teachers' Morale and Create a Stable Childcare Environment Through Active Treatment Improvements

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it will expand improvements in the treatment of childcare center staff to create a stable childcare environment unique to Songpa-gu.

In particular, under the motto "Happy teachers make happy children," the district will ▲improve the treatment and working conditions of childcare center staff ▲and improve the childcare environment by providing operational support, considering the operational difficulties childcare centers face due to the declining birthrate.

First, reflecting the voices from the childcare field, the district will promote the expansion of improvements in the treatment of childcare center staff. According to the 2023 salary status of childcare staff, the monthly salary for a level 1 childcare teacher was 2,099,100 KRW, which was similar to the minimum wage at the time, highlighting the ongoing need for better treatment.

Accordingly, starting this year, the district will increase support funds such as welfare expenses, holiday leave pay, and long-term service allowances for childcare teachers. Welfare expenses will be increased from 90,000 KRW to 100,000 KRW for 2,650 people including childcare center directors, lead teachers, and cooks. Holiday leave pay will be increased from 40,000 KRW to 50,000 KRW for 3,560 people including directors, lead teachers, cooks, and assistant teachers.

Additionally, the long-term service allowance will be increased from 30,000 KRW to 40,000 KRW per month for 380 childcare staff who have worked for more than three years at private or home-based childcare centers, thereby improving practical treatment and strengthening the capabilities of childcare teachers.

Furthermore, the district will support operations by increasing the cooking staff wage subsidies for private and home-based childcare centers that employ cooks. For childcare centers with fewer than 40 children, the subsidy will increase from 150,000 KRW to 200,000 KRW, and for those with 40 or more children, from 200,000 KRW to 250,000 KRW.

Through this, the district aims to boost the morale of childcare staff, reduce the high turnover rate, and enhance the professionalism of their work and satisfaction with childcare services.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “We aim to provide high-quality public childcare services by improving the treatment of childcare teachers who fulfill their duties despite difficult working conditions,” and added, “We will take the lead in creating a stable childcare environment so that the children, the future leaders of Songpa-gu, can grow up healthy and happy.”