Naju-si Conducts 'Family-Friendly Certification Consulting' for Companies and Institutions

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters] Reporter Han-Hyuk Lee=The city of Naju, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 29th that it recently conducted ‘Family-Friendly Certification Consulting’ aimed at achieving work-family balance for 11 local companies and institutions at the conference room on the 2nd floor of the Agricultural and Fisheries Chamber.

Family-Friendly Certification is a system in which the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family grants certification to companies and institutions that exemplary operate ‘family-friendly systems’ through an evaluation process.

The evaluation consists of document and on-site assessments of criteria such as ‘manager’s interest and will,’ ‘support for childbirth and child-rearing,’ ‘utilization of flexible work systems,’ ‘creation of a family-friendly workplace culture,’ ‘employee satisfaction with family-friendly management,’ and ‘employee interviews.’

This consulting was jointly hosted by the Family-Friendly Support Center of the Korea Healthy Family Promotion Agency and the Work-Family Balance Support Center of the Jeonnam Women and Family Foundation.

Focusing on cultivating a family-friendly management mindset, customized consulting was provided by dividing companies and institutions wishing for new certification, recertification, or extension into two groups.

Preliminary inspections and improvements necessary for system certification were conducted, including compliance with related laws such as the Labor Standards Act, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Work-Family Balance Support, review of key indicators, and linkage with family-friendly workplace education.

Previously, the city pursued recertification following the expiration of the validity period (3 years) after the initial designation in 2017, and was recertified as a family-friendly certified institution in December last year.

They actively support employees’ work-family balance through initiatives such as introducing ‘Family Day,’ where employees leave work promptly at 6 p.m. every Wednesday, flexible work systems, family vacation facilities, and operation of workplace daycare centers.

Various policies to create a happy workplace culture are also underway, including hiring new personnel to replace employees using family care leave and parental leave, and holding appointment ceremonies for new public officials with their families.

In the Naju area, a total of 25 companies and institutions, including five newly certified last year, have received family-friendly certification.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “To expand family-friendly certification introduced as a new policy this year, we plan to provide various incentives such as professional institution consulting, publicity, and support for plaques,” adding, “We will create a Naju that is good to work in and where people want to work by fostering a family-friendly workplace culture and realizing work-family balance.”

[Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Han-Hyuk Lee lhh3633@asiae.co.kr]

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