Partial Amendment Draft of the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act and Others
The enforcement decree, which includes raising parental leave pay to a maximum of 2.5 million KRW per month to support work-family balance, will undergo formal legislative procedures.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it will open a legislative notice period from the 10th of this month to the 19th of next month for partial amendments to subordinate laws under the Act on Gender Equality in Employment, the Employment Insurance Act, and the Act on Collection of Employment and Industrial Accident Insurance Premiums. This includes expanded government support such as increased parental leave pay and corporate substitute workforce support funds, which were part of the low birthrate countermeasures announced last June.
Starting next year, parental leave pay, currently 1.5 million KRW per month, will be increased up to 2.5 million KRW. Additionally, the full amount will be paid during the parental leave period without post-payment. For example, if parental leave is taken for 12 months, the total pay will increase from the existing 18 million KRW to 23.1 million KRW, an increase of 5.1 million KRW.
With the increase in parental leave pay, the '6+6 Parental Leave System'?which provides enhanced pay support for the first six months when both parents take parental leave within 18 months of the child's birth?will see the first month's cap rise from 2 million KRW to 2.5 million KRW.
Furthermore, parental leave pay for single-parent workers will be raised from 2.5 million KRW to 3 million KRW per month for the first three months. The Ministry of Employment and Labor explained that even if parental leave started before the law takes effect in January next year, the increased pay will apply to the parental leave period used.
To reduce the burden on workers applying for parental leave, the process will allow integrated applications for parental leave when using maternity leave or spouse maternity leave. Employers must provide written consent within 14 days after the worker applies for parental leave, and if no response is given, the parental leave will be granted as requested.
Government support to ease the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises will also be expanded. Starting next year, substitute workforce support funds will be provided not only for maternity leave and reduced working hours during childcare but also for parental leave usage. The support amount will increase from 800,000 KRW to 1.2 million KRW per month.
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo stated, "The three childcare support laws passed by the National Assembly plenary session last September will bring significant changes to creating conditions for work-family balance in the labor market," adding, "Following the revision of this enforcement decree and enforcement rules, we will promptly proceed with amendments to subordinate laws for the law's enforcement early next year."
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