Extension of Parental Leave for Parents of Children with Severe Disabilities... Expansion of Miscarriage Leave in Early Pregnancy

Ministry of Employment and Labor's Childcare Support Three Acts Subordinate Legislation Amendment Public Notice

Starting next year, parents of children with severe disabilities will be able to extend their parental leave from the current 1 year to 1 year and 6 months. In cases of miscarriage or stillbirth in early pregnancy, the leave period, which was 5 days, will be doubled to 10 days from next year.

Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will announce a legislative notice for partial amendments to subordinate laws related to the three childcare support laws, including the Act on Gender Equality in Employment, the Employment Insurance Act, and the Labor Standards Act, from the 20th until December 30th.

This amendment includes expanding temporary early miscarriage and stillbirth leave necessary for the enforcement of the three childcare support laws passed by the National Assembly last September. Considering the increasing trend of miscarriages and stillbirths due to the rise in older pregnant women, the leave period for miscarriage and stillbirth within 11 weeks of pregnancy will be extended from 5 days to 10 days.

From February next year, if both parents take parental leave for more than 3 months, the leave period will be extended from 1 year to 1 year and 6 months. At this time, single parents or parents of children with severe disabilities can extend their parental leave unconditionally by 6 months. Children with severe disabilities refer to those classified as having "severe disabilities" according to the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

If a premature infant is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit after birth, the maternity leave will be extended from the current 90 days to 100 days. Premature infants refer to newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation or infants weighing less than 2.5 kg (premature infants under the Maternal and Child Health Act Enforcement Decree) who are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit within 24 hours after birth.

Shortened working hours during pregnancy can be used within 12 weeks of pregnancy or after 36 weeks, but going forward, high-risk pregnant women will be able to use it throughout the pregnancy period. High-risk pregnant women are those diagnosed with any of 19 high-risk conditions covered by the high-risk pregnant women medical expense support project (Ministry of Health and Welfare), such as multiple pregnancies, diabetes, and hemorrhage.

Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, said, "The three childcare support laws have been amended and are scheduled to be enforced on February 23 next year," adding, "We will create conditions for parents to use work and childcare support systems without burden, and carefully expand the system to support those who need assistance during pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare."