Raising Children Means One Day of Remote Work per Week... Economic Deputy Prime Minister Encourages 'Work-Family Balance' [Gwanga in]

Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok Emphasizes "Work-Family Balance" Internally
Remote Work Allowed Based on Departmental Situations When Raising Children
Usage Permitted if Reports Are Submitted Without Section Chief's Approval

From this month, Ministry of Economy and Finance employees raising infants and toddlers will begin working from home. This is the result of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok's directive to lead by example in practicing the core low birthrate policy of ‘work-family balance.’ Among Ministry of Economy and Finance employees, who have been suffering from overwork due to a heavier workload compared to other ministries, there are voices calling this a groundbreaking benefit.

According to government sources on the 10th, the Ministry of Economy and Finance started operating a work-from-home system organized by divisions and bureaus from this month. Employees eligible for work-from-home are those with children under the age of 2 (less than 36 months). The work-from-home schedule is arranged independently by each department, such as allowing employees to choose two days per month or mandating one remote workday per week. Additionally, young employees at grade 5 or below can freely apply for work-from-home without seeking approval from section or bureau chiefs, so they can work remotely without hesitation. It is reported that in some ministries, officials have already submitted approvals for work-from-home.

Employees who start working from home will also be provided with ‘Onbook’ laptops. Onbook is a laptop used by public officials or public institution employees during business trips or remote work. Previously, public officials had to come to the office due to security reasons, but with Onbook, they can handle work externally. Although essential for remote work, the quantity of Onbooks has been limited and prioritized for departments with frequent external business trips.

Since his appointment, Deputy Prime Minister Choi has expressed the need for work-family balance within the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In fact, in March, after receiving a report on low birthrate measures including work-family balance, he instructed to ‘check whether we are doing well.’ In the same month, he held a 2-hour and 30-minute meeting with about 20 female employees with children in elementary school or younger. At that time, employees requested Deputy Prime Minister Choi to establish a work-from-home system so they could at least finish work at home, acknowledging that the workload was unavoidable. In April, during the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in the United States, he reportedly sent messages to all employees using Onbook laptops, encouraging the activation of remote and work-from-home work.

Last month, the Ministry of Economy and Finance declared a ‘Work-Family Balance Practice Declaration’ in celebration of Family Month. They allowed employees to use one hour before and after lunch for personal matters such as childcare and decided to promote flexible and remote work. They also plan to operate a special work-from-home activation period during children’s school vacations. For employees preparing for pregnancy or in pregnancy and childcare periods, policies to allow flexible work arrangements include infertility treatment leave, maternity protection time, and childcare time support.

The changed organizational atmosphere has received positive evaluations among frontline officials. One Ministry of Economy and Finance official said, “Even though I wanted to be devoted to my family, it was not easy because of the Ministry’s workload,” adding, “Now that the work-from-home infrastructure is in place, many employees hope that flexible work systems will be further activated.”