SME Sector "Actively Participate in Work-Life Balance... Communicate with Government"

Kim Ki-moon Attends Work-Family Balance Excellent Companies Performance Sharing Meeting
Also Proposes Expansion of Substitute Workforce Bank

The small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector has decided to actively participate in establishing work-family balance as a corporate culture.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 4th Population Emergency Measures Meeting held on the theme of 'Sharing Achievements of Excellent Work-Family Balance Companies' at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 25th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 25th, Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, attended the "Work-Family Balance Excellent Companies Performance Sharing Meeting" hosted by the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee at the KBIZ Hall of the Federation. He stated, "As the SME sector employs the largest number of workers, we will strive to ensure that work-family balance succeeds under this government, creating a world where the sound of happy children’s laughter can be heard anywhere in Korea where SMEs exist."

Chairman Kim added, "The entire SME sector, together with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, will launch the 'Work-Family Balance Committee' to actively communicate with the government so that policies suited to reality can be established."

However, he pointed out, "Korea ranks second in the world in manufacturing share, and meeting delivery deadlines is a key competitive factor. Since SMEs are facing difficulties due to labor shortages, if employees take parental leave during peak seasons, it becomes very challenging to utilize substitute personnel, so urgent measures are needed."

In response, Chairman Kim proposed expanding the current five substitute personnel banks, strengthening the substitute personnel referral services at over 130 employment centers nationwide, partially supporting wages for substitute job seekers through local governments and expanding the substitute personnel pool, and encouraging voluntary participation by providing exceptional incentives to companies excelling in work-life balance and family-friendly practices.