Kim Moon-soo: "Work and Childcare Support Should Be Accessible to Everyone... Will Expand Substitute Workforce Support Fund"

Meeting with Daycare Parents
Hearing Field Opinions on the Three Childcare Support Laws

Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, visited a joint workplace daycare center in Pangyo, Seongnam on the 16th and stated that he would strive to expand the on-site application of the three childcare support laws.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo visiting Pangyo Seven Venture Valley Daycare Center on the 16th and holding a meeting with parents.
[Photo by Ministry of Employment and Labor]

On the morning of the same day, Minister Kim visited the Pangyo Seven Venture Valley daycare center and held a meeting to discuss with working parents. Since the three childcare support laws (the Act on Gender Equality in Employment, the Employment Insurance Act, and the Labor Standards Act), which passed the National Assembly plenary session last month, will be implemented in February next year, the meeting was arranged to hear opinions from the field in advance.

Minister Kim said, "We will introduce short-term childcare leave to be used in cases such as suspension of attendance at daycare or school due to infectious diseases or hospitalization due to illness," and added, "We will improve the system so that the expanded 20-day spouse childbirth leave can be used before childbirth, and that spouses can take childcare leave during pregnancy if there is a reason to care for the mother."

He continued, "For workers at workplaces with one or more employees, we will expand substitute workforce support funds and work-sharing support funds for companies so that they can use work and childcare support systems," and added, "We will create an environment where people can enjoy the system without feeling pressured."

Starting next year, the system will change as follows: ▲childcare leave pay will increase to a maximum of 2.5 million KRW per month ▲childcare leave period will be extended up to 1 year and 6 months (with 1.6 million KRW paid monthly during the extension period) ▲spouse childbirth leave will be expanded to one month ▲substitute workforce support funds for small and medium-sized enterprises will increase by 1.2 million KRW. The increase in childcare leave pay and substitute workforce support funds is expected to be introduced from January next year following the revision of the enforcement decree.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has expanded the related budget to support work-family balance from 2.7 trillion KRW this year to 4.4 trillion KRW next year.

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