Presidential Office "Maternity and Stillbirth Leave Extended from 5 to 10 Days... Spouse Leave Also Introduced"

Small and Medium Enterprises Balancing Work and Family Granted Tax Audit Deferral
Negative Terms Related to Childbirth and Childcare to Be Revised
Population Planning Department Launches and Announces Roadmap Simultaneously

The Presidential Office is promoting a tax audit deferral for outstanding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that excel in work-family balance. Additionally, the leave for early pregnancy miscarriage will be extended from the current 5 days to 10 days, and medical support for families facing infertility will also be expanded.

On the afternoon of the 27th, Yoo Hyemi, the Presidential Office's Low Birthrate Chief, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office and announced additional policy tasks to address low birthrate, stating, "The government is making addressing the low birthrate a top national priority along with four major reforms and is putting all efforts into it."

Chief Yoo emphasized, "To solve the low birthrate problem, the top priority is for companies to change workplace culture so that young people can work hard and happily balance parenting," and added, "The President has expressed the government's determination to do its best to support outstanding SMEs leading the way in work-family balance."

She further explained, "In this regard, SMEs that qualify as work-life balance SMEs or family-friendly certified companies will be able to apply for a deferral of national tax regular audits starting from January next year if selected as audit targets."

Yoo Hye-mi, Chief of Low Birthrate Response at the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on current issues regarding recent birth rates and low birthrate response policies at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Moreover, the Presidential Office announced that support for the health recovery of women experiencing miscarriage and for families facing infertility will be expanded. As the age of pregnant women rises due to increased social participation of young people and delayed marriage and childbirth, infertility, high-risk pregnancies, and miscarriages are increasing, prompting the government to increase support.

Chief Yoo stated, "The current 5-day leave period for early pregnancy miscarriage is not sufficient for physical and mental recovery," and added, "We plan to extend the leave period to 10 days."

She also announced, "A spousal leave system for miscarriage will be newly established so that spouses can assist in physical and mental recovery."

Chief Yoo said, "Until now, if egg retrieval was unsuccessful and infertility treatment could not be received, the local government support had to be returned," and added, "We plan to revise related guidelines so that medical expenses from local governments continue to be supported in cases where infertility treatment is discontinued against the patient's wishes."

In particular, the Presidential Office is also promoting changes to terms that may carry negative images to improve social perceptions related to marriage, childbirth, and parenting.

Chief Yoo said, "Social perception related to marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting is very important in addressing the low birthrate," and added, "there are opinions to change terms such as replacing 'parental leave' with 'parenting immersion period' and 'career-interrupted women' with 'career-retaining women.'"

The government plans to announce detailed contents including these measures at the 5th Population Emergency Measures Meeting scheduled for the 30th.

The Presidential Office also revealed plans to announce a population strategy roadmap simultaneously with the launch of the Population Strategy Planning Department.

Chief Yoo said, "Since there is consensus on establishing the Population Strategy Planning Department, we ask for cooperation from the National Assembly to pass related bills within the regular session," and added, "the government will thoroughly prepare so that the Population Strategy Planning Department can perform its functions immediately after its launch."