"Implementation of the Three Childcare Support Laws...
Expectations for a Childcare-Friendly Culture"
Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Strategy and Finance, emphasized on the 17th that for work-family balance, not only the government but also the role of companies and a shift in awareness are important, urging "more companies to participate in creating an environment and spreading a culture of work-family balance."
At a work-family balance luncheon meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, Acting President Choi said, "We select companies leading in work-family balance as 'Excellent Work-Life Balance Companies' and 'Family-Friendly Certified Companies,' providing various incentives such as tax audit deferrals and preferential treatment in government support projects."
Choe Sang-mok, Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Economy and Finance. Yonhap News
The meeting was attended by related ministers and vice ministers including Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor; Shin Young-sook, Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family; and Kim Sung-seop, Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups, as well as policy stakeholders such as working moms and dads, representatives of excellent work-life balance companies, and family-friendly certified companies. The attendees encouraged representatives of outstanding companies striving to establish a culture of work-family balance and listened to the difficulties faced by workers balancing work and childcare, discussing future policy directions for work-family balance.
Acting President Choi explained, "To overcome the low birthrate, it is essential to create an environment where work and family harmoniously coexist," adding, "To this end, we are significantly expanding the budget for low birthrate response, introducing a marriage tax credit, expanding child tax credits, and strengthening financial and tax support." He continued, "With the implementation of the three childcare support laws scheduled for the 23rd, childcare leave, spousal paternity leave, and other childcare supports will be enacted," expressing hope that a childcare-friendly culture will spread.
The three childcare support laws are based on the 'Act on Gender Equality Employment and Work-Family Balance Support,' the 'Labor Standards Act,' and the 'Employment Insurance Act.' They include extending the childcare leave period from one year to one and a half years for parents sharing childcare, expanding spousal paternity leave from 10 days to 20 days, expanding the age of children eligible for reduced working hours during childcare from 8 to 12 years old, and extending the period for reduced working hours during pregnancy to 'within 12 weeks and after 32 weeks.'
At the meeting, attendees suggested that active promotion to beneficiaries of this year's changed work-childcare support system is necessary to help overcome the low birthrate. They also requested the expansion of childcare facilities for children of workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, emphasizing that workplace daycare centers are important for work-family balance. Additionally, they mentioned expanding support for substitute personnel due to childcare leave and additional benefits for excellent work-life balance companies and family-friendly certified companies.
Acting President Choi stated, "Although the total fertility rate recorded an all-time low of 0.72 in 2023 and showed a positive sign with the first rebound in nine years last year, there are still many areas to improve for work-family balance," and added, "We will reflect the opinions raised today in the policy-making process to ensure that workers balancing work and childcare can feel real changes."
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