'Family-Friendly Certification' Applications Open Until June 30... May Briefing Session Scheduled

As of the end of last year, 4,918 companies certified
Online and offline briefings also from May

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 24th that it is accepting applications for participation in the 2022 Family-Friendly Certification from companies and public institutions until June 30.

Introduced in 2008, the Family-Friendly Certification system grants certification to companies and public institutions that exemplary operate family-friendly systems such as flexible working hours, childbirth and childcare support, and education support programs. The number of certified companies increased from 14 in 2018 to 4,918 by the end of 2021.

Certified companies and institutions can receive additional points when selected for government and local government procurement contracts. In addition, 239 various benefits are provided, including preferential interest rates for investment and loans for small and medium-sized enterprises, and preferential treatment in immigration inspections.

The "early adoption and implementation of reduced working hours," which was introduced as a scoring item during the family-friendly certification evaluation, will be excluded from the evaluation criteria starting this year, as the 52-hour workweek system has been implemented in small workplaces since July last year.

Companies wishing to participate can apply for certification on the Family-Friendly Support Project website. After document and on-site evaluations and deliberation by the Family-Friendly Certification Committee, the final certification will be confirmed in December.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to hold nationwide briefing sessions and online briefings to explain necessary matters for certification preparation, provide self-assessment services and consulting, and guide post-support measures such as legal compliance inspections.

Kim Sukja, Director of Family Policy at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, said, "To promote the creation of a family-friendly workplace culture, we completely revamped the certification criteria in 2014, and the number of family-friendly companies has significantly increased quantitatively. We will continue to improve the certification criteria reflecting the field conditions of companies and operate the Family-Friendly Certification system substantively."

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