Ministry of Employment and Labor Implements Follow-up Amendments to Three Childcare Support Laws
"Rising Rate of Miscarriage and Stillbirth Compared to Births"
Infertility Treatment Leave Extended to 6 Days per Year
Government to Subsidize Leave Pay for SME Workers
Leave available for miscarriage or stillbirth within 11 weeks of pregnancy will be doubled from 5 days to 10 days. Leave for infertility treatment will also be expanded to up to 6 days per year.
On the 11th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor reviewed and approved presidential decrees on the 'Act on Gender Equality in Employment,' 'Employment Insurance Act,' and 'Labor Standards Act' at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office. These presidential decrees are follow-up measures to the three childcare support laws promulgated last October. The decrees will take effect on the 23rd.
Through the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standards Act, the government will increase the leave for miscarriage and stillbirth available in the early stages of pregnancy from 5 days to 10 days. Previously, if a miscarriage or stillbirth occurred within 11 weeks of pregnancy, 5 days of leave was granted from that date. Ten days of leave was only available from 12 to 15 weeks. Going forward, even within 11 weeks, 10 days of leave can be taken.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor explained, "In 2022, there were 89,457 cases of miscarriage and stillbirth. As the number of older pregnant women increases, the ratio of miscarriage and stillbirth compared to the number of births is rising. We are expanding the leave period so that women can have sufficient rest to recover their health even if miscarriage or stillbirth occurs in the early stages of pregnancy."
Through the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act, infertility treatment leave benefits will be newly established. Infertility treatment leave will be extended from 3 days to 6 days per year (2 days paid, 4 days unpaid), and it can be used in units of one day. For workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, the government will support infertility treatment leave benefits during the paid period (2 days) to reduce the burden of taking leave.
Artists and labor providers enrolled in employment insurance who give birth to premature infants will be able to receive childbirth and postpartum benefits for 100 days, the same as workers. The leave period for miscarriage and stillbirth benefits in early pregnancy will also be extended to 10 days, like workers.
Through the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Gender Equality in Employment, the childcare leave period will be extended from 1 year to 1 year and 6 months, and childcare leave benefits of up to 1.6 million KRW will be provided during this period. However, the extension is possible only if both parents have taken childcare leave for 3 months or more, or in the case of single-parent families or parents of children with severe disabilities.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "The three childcare support laws will be enforced on the 23rd," adding, "The support system for work-family balance during pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare will be greatly expanded, which is expected to help reduce the burden of childbirth and childcare for working parents."
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