An evaluation revealed that the average score of domestic companies in responding to the population crisis was only 55.5 out of 100 points. The top scorer was Samsung Electro-Mechanics with 85.3 points.
On the 18th, the Korea Future Population Research Institute announced the results of the "Basic Evaluation of Excellent Companies Responding to the Population Crisis" with this content. The institute evaluated 17 detailed indicators across four categories?▲support for childbirth and childcare ▲support for work-family balance ▲creation of a corporate culture encouraging childbirth ▲contribution to local communities?based on sustainability management reports published by 300 domestic companies with total assets exceeding 1 trillion won from March to April.
As a result, among the 300 companies, the company with the highest total score was Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which recorded 85.3 points. Lotte Fine Chemical (83.8 points), Shinhan Card, KT&G, KB Kookmin Card (each 80.9 points), Kookmin Bank, Samsung Electronics, Korea Gas Corporation, Jeju Bank, and Hyosung Advanced Materials (each 79.4 points) followed, ranking within the top 10.
The lowest score was recorded by pure holding companies that only hold subsidiary shares, with 16.2 points. The institute did not disclose the names of the lower-ranked companies but only indicated their industries. Excluding pure holding companies, many utility and energy companies were in the bottom ranks. Companies ranked 296th (27.9 points), 297th (26.5 points), and 299th (25.0 points) were all utility and energy companies.
Based on the evaluation of detailed indicators, the total score for companies’ response to the population crisis was calculated by weighting and summing the scores of the four categories. The average score of the 300 companies was 55.5 points. By category, the work-family balance support category scored the highest at 75.9 points, followed by the creation of a corporate culture encouraging childbirth at 55.1 points, and support for childbirth and childcare at 52.0 points. The response to local extinction scored the lowest at 21.3 points.
The institute pointed out that while the 300 companies have introduced systems for legally mandated matters such as employee childcare support and operation of workplace daycare centers, only a very small number have implemented mandatory paternity leave systems. It analyzed that "there is a need to foster a work culture that encourages both men and women to participate in childcare."
Additionally, an analysis of the differences between the top 50 and bottom 50 companies showed that the score differences were particularly notable in the presence of pregnant worker protection systems and operation of workplace daycare centers. The institute stated, "Pregnant worker protection systems such as reduced working hours during pregnancy, infertility treatment leave, and allowance for fetal examination time are all legally recommended measures, so efforts to encourage their use regardless of company size are necessary."
The institute also disclosed results of classifying the remaining companies, excluding 28 pure holding companies, into 11 industries according to its own standards and ranking them by category scores and overall rankings. Among these, the average score of 25 companies classified under the manufacturing industry as 'IT components, hardware, semiconductor and mechanical parts manufacturing' was the highest at 60.5 points. These companies received good evaluations in support during the childcare stage and were also found to have a high level of response to local extinction.
On the other hand, the construction industry had the lowest average score by industry at 51.1 points. Due to the nature of the construction industry, which often employs daily workers, non-regular workers, or contract workers, it was analyzed that the industry received very low scores in the 'creation of a corporate culture encouraging childbirth' category, which included employment stability as a detailed evaluation indicator.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
