[K Population Strategy] "Samsung Heavy Industries Daycare Center Operates from 7 AM to Match Parents' Commute Time"

Childcare Teachers Fully Engaged with Children
Office and Nursing Staff Separate
Ministry of Health and Welfare's Top Childcare Center Evaluation

When the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee toured the business sites of affiliates, he saw children wandering around like drifters near the sites and asked, "Why are they wandering around without their parents?" The parents had all gone to work, leaving the children alone. Concerned about the children's safety, Chairman Lee instructed to establish daycare centers. Thus, Samsung started its first daycare center business in 1989 in Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. The workplace daycare center business soon followed. The Samsung Welfare Foundation, chaired by Samsung C&T President Lee Seo-hyun, manages all workplace daycare centers of Samsung affiliates collectively.

At the Samsung Heavy Industries workplace daycare center located about 500 meters from the Geoje shipyard, Director Ahn So-young was preparing the June menu. She said, "As the director, I don't decide what to feed the children based on my preference; instead, we decide together with directors and nutritionists from Samsung daycare centers nationwide." They carefully evaluate and provide feedback on various programs, including nutritional analysis, frequency of natural foods, and even color studies using colorful foods. "All children in Samsung daycare centers nationwide eat the same carefully planned menu. Hygiene and nutrition management are organized and systematic."

When the government looks for exemplary daycare centers, they also turn to Samsung daycare centers. Last year, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited the Samsung daycare center in Guro, Seoul, as the first site visit ahead of the unified childcare policy. In February, the Ministry of Health and Welfare recommended distributing Samsung daycare centers' 'Diversity Respect Education Program' to daycare centers nationwide for use.

Exterior view of the Samsung Heavy Industries workplace daycare center in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam [Photo by Samsung Heavy Industries]

- It is refreshing that all children in workplace Samsung daycare centers have the same menu.

▲ Among about 70 Samsung daycare centers nationwide, around 30 are workplace daycare centers. When children arrive in the morning, they are not just given a piece of bread and milk but cooked foods like porridge or soup. Lunch differs from other centers by providing four side dishes along with soup and rice as a basic meal. To ensure children eat well in the afternoon, instant foods are excluded. More budget is allocated for meals compared to other daycare centers.

- How are workplace daycare centers different from general daycare centers?

▲ Daycare centers usually open at 7:30 a.m. and operate for 12 hours as a standard. We open 30 minutes earlier to match parents' work schedules. Samsung workplace daycare centers provide cups, water bottles, and trays at the center to reduce parents' inconvenience. There is no parental fee. Samsung Heavy Industries fully supports operating expenses. Teacher salaries are also higher than those at general daycare centers.

- Geoje Samsung Daycare Center received the highest grade A in the daycare center evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare this month.

▲ Samsung Heavy Industries opened the workplace daycare center in 2008. There are many teachers, meaning there is enough staff to cover vacations and annual leave. More teachers are assigned than the legal standard. Professional childcare teachers focus solely on the children. They do not leave the classroom to answer phone calls; there is a separate administrative staff for that. A nurse is in charge of children's health. For example, administering medication on time is done by the nurse, not the childcare teacher. They consult with doctors at Gangbuk Samsung Hospital for information on infectious diseases and other health matters. Childcare teachers receive professional development training under the comprehensive education system of the Samsung Welfare Foundation after joining. Teachers with experience at Samsung workplace daycare centers are recognized elsewhere as well.

- How has the shipbuilding industry downturn affected the daycare center?

▲ Like other workplace daycare centers, priority admission was given to female employees to prevent career breaks, but this policy has now been removed. Many female employees took voluntary retirement. Around 2010, many employees were hired, and many children were born then, leading to an expansion of the daycare building in 2014 and increasing capacity to 262 children. During the shipbuilding downturn, the number of employees decreased, and so did the number of children. The declining birth rate also had an impact. However, Samsung workplace daycare centers have never reduced operating expenses due to fewer children or financial difficulties. Fortunately, the shipbuilding industry has recovered, and I hear many new employees are being hired this year.

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