[2021 National Audit] "Five Employment Ministry Affiliates Prohibit Paid Infertility Leave" Criticized

October 15 National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Employment Ministry Subordinate Agencies Audit
Lee Su-jin "Infertility Paid Leave Not Available at 5 Places Including Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency"

On the 15th, at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Eo Su-bong, President of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (from left), Park Du-yong, President of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Kang Soon-hee, President of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, and Jo Hyang-hyun, President of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled, attended. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It was pointed out during the National Assembly audit that a significant number of employees at institutions under the Ministry of Employment and Labor are unable to take paid leave for infertility treatment.

On the 15th, Lee Sujin, a member of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated during the audit of institutions under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, "Employees at the Ministry headquarters can take paid leave for infertility treatment according to the National Public Service Act, but many employees at affiliated institutions cannot use it due to the widely varying employment regulations."

Among the 12 institutions under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Lee reported that five institutions where employees cannot take paid leave for infertility treatment include the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, the Korea Labor Foundation, the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association, the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency, and Korea Job World.

Out of approximately 800,000 workplaces nationwide, only about 4,000 had records of infertility leave reflected in the Labor Standards Act as of 2019, which was incorporated in 2018.

Lee urged improvement, saying, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor’s affiliated institutions that do not even guarantee paid leave for infertile workers can never serve as a model for the private sector."

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