[2020 National Audit] Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Public Enterprises' Childcare Systems 'Vary Greatly'... Up to 2-Year Gap Between Institutions

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] It has been revealed that there are differences in childcare support systems even among public enterprises under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. There was a gap of up to 2 years in the leave period, and differences were also observed in the operation of automatic childcare leave.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and analyzed by Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Fisheries Committee, five public enterprises under the Ministry operate childcare support systems for employees in accordance with the "Act on Support for Work-Family Balance." The support systems consist of childcare leave periods, inclusion of leave periods in continuous service years, operation of automatic childcare leave systems, and maternity leave.

Among the public enterprises under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, as of this year, Incheon Port Authority, Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, and Ulsan Port Authority were found to provide a maximum childcare leave period of 3 years for both male and female employees.

In the past, female employees were granted longer childcare leave periods than male employees, but recently, the trend is to eliminate differences between male and female employees.

The Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation guarantees a 2-year childcare leave period for both male and female employees. The only public enterprise that grants different childcare leave periods to male and female employees is Busan Port Authority, which grants 3 years to females but limits males to 1 year.

All public enterprises grant 90 days of maternity leave to the employee who gave birth and 10 days to the spouse.

The "automatic childcare leave system," where childcare leave is automatically applied for upon childbirth without a separate application, is operated by Incheon Port Authority, Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, whereas Busan Port Authority and Ulsan Port Authority do not operate it.

The automatic childcare leave system automatically applies for childcare leave when maternity leave is applied for, and the employee only needs to notify the company if they do not use the childcare leave. This system is used to prevent employees from feeling pressured by employers when applying for childcare leave.

Rep. Wi said, "South Korea's total fertility rate is 0.92, the lowest level in the world," and advised, "Public enterprises under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should take the lead in expanding and developing systems to create a better environment and workplace for pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.