On February 4, the city of Bucheon in Gyeonggi Province announced that it will pilot a system that pays a monthly work-substitution allowance of 50,000 won to employees who perform the work of civil servants using childcare time or maternity protection time.
This system was introduced to enhance the effectiveness of child-rearing support policies by providing compensation to employees who fill work gaps, as the number of civil servants using childcare time and maternity protection time has increased.
The work-substitution allowance will be paid by utilizing part of the relevant budget in accordance with the "Special Case for Autonomous Operation of Important Duty Allowances." It will be granted to those who have actually substituted the work of civil servants who used 10 hours or more of childcare time or maternity protection time in the previous month.
To ensure meaningful compensation, the allowance will mainly be paid to employees working at community administrative welfare centers, where work gaps are more likely to occur, and to civil petition counter staff who receive civil petition work allowances. Based on this year's pilot operation, the city plans to supplement any areas that need improvement and then expand the program.
An official from Bucheon City said, "We introduced the work-substitution allowance to create an organizational culture in which childcare time and maternity protection time can be used without hesitation," adding, "We will continue to improve the system to create a working environment that supports a balance between work and family."
Meanwhile, Bucheon City has been implementing the important duty allowance system since 2021 to boost employee morale and provide substantial rewards according to their contribution to work. This year, the city plans to designate important duties for 24% of its authorized staff and pay allowances accordingly.
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