[What Will Change in the Second Half: Full Subsidy for Employers Even if Employees Voluntarily Resign After Parental Leave]

Strengthened Economic Sanctions Against Employers with Wage Arrears
Reform of the Public Adoption System under State Responsibility
Establishment of a System for Managing Tobacco Hazards

If an employee voluntarily resigns within six months after using parental leave or the reduced working hours system, starting next month, the employer will receive the full amount of the deferred payment that was previously withheld.

Previously, if an employee could not continue employment for personal reasons within six months after the end of parental leave, the employer was unable to receive the remaining 50% of the parental leave subsidy. The government has revised the law so that even when an employee voluntarily resigns, the employer can receive the remaining portion of the parental leave and reduced working hours subsidies.

Starting October 23, economic sanctions against employers with a history of habitual wage arrears will be strengthened with the enforcement of the amended Labor Standards Act (Habitual Wage Arrears Prevention Act). The Minister of Employment and Labor will designate employers who habitually fail to pay wages each year and provide their arrears records to the Comprehensive Credit Information Center for sanctions. There will also be a prohibition to prevent employers from fleeing abroad without settling unpaid wages.

The government stated, "In cases of wage arrears caused by clear intent, the bill provides grounds for affected employees to claim damages of up to three times the unpaid wages in court," adding, "As social awareness grows that wage arrears are a serious economic crime, we expect that wage arrears threatening workers' livelihoods will decrease."

Last month at the EXCO event hall in Buk-gu, Daegu, a visitor is seen browsing a childcare products booth. Photo by Yonhap News

The Youth Job Incentive Program has expanded its eligibility to include not only university graduates but also those who are expected to graduate. Additionally, for young people employed in industries with labor shortages, such as manufacturing, long-term employment incentives will be provided starting from six months of continuous service, with payments made in four installments at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, totaling 4.8 million won. The government explained that "since youth unemployment and labor shortages in small and medium-sized enterprises are occurring simultaneously, a prompt response is necessary."

Starting July 19, the adoption process, previously handled by private adoption agencies, will be managed by the central and local governments in accordance with the 'best interests of the child.' The government plans to reform the system into a public adoption framework to enhance the safety and rights of adopted children under state responsibility.

Prospective adoptive parents will now apply for adoption through the National Center for the Rights of the Child, after which they will receive counseling and a home study through a specialized agency. The Adoption Policy Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (secretariat: National Center for the Rights of the Child) will then review and decide on the eligibility and matching of prospective adoptive parents. In this process, the National Center for the Rights of the Child will take over and manage records previously kept by each adoption agency.

The content of occupational safety and health education for employees, special-type workers, and supervisors will now include information on evacuation in the event of fire or explosion. This aims to ensure that employees are familiar with emergency evacuation procedures and that supervisors who directly manage employees are better trained to evacuate workers appropriately in emergencies.

Starting in November, with the enforcement of the Tobacco Hazard Management Act, a scientific management system for tobacco hazards will be established. This will involve analyzing and disclosing harmful substances contained in tobacco to guarantee the public's right to know and protect national health. When the Minister of Food and Drug Safety announces the list of harmful tobacco substances to be tested, manufacturers will be required to submit test results every two years, and these results will be published on the Ministry's website.

From September, improvements will be introduced to procedures for introducing new medical devices to the market. To expedite the market entry of new medical devices, a clinical evaluation system will be implemented, which will comprehensively consider clinical trial results, clinical literature, and clinical experience when granting approval and certification. If clinical evaluation data meets international standards and is approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, new medical technologies will be exempt from further evaluation and allowed immediate market entry.