Public Officials Injured While Responding to Fires and Infectious Diseases to Receive Up to 8 Years of Sick Leave

Legislative Notice for Amendment to the 'Local Public Officials Act'
Disease and Injury Public Officials Term Extended from 5 to 8 Years
High School Graduate Talent Training Leave Expanded up to 4 Years

From now on, public officials performing hazardous duties such as firefighting or infectious disease control will be able to take sick leave for up to 8 years. Additionally, high school graduates will have the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's degree by utilizing study leave.

On the 30th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it will publicly notify the amendment to the 'Local Public Officials Act,' which includes these provisions, until December 10 to improve the rights and interests of local public officials.

This amendment was prepared as a follow-up measure to the government's 'Measures to Create Conditions for Concentrated Work for Public Officials' announced last March, aiming to enhance the flexibility of personnel management in local governments. Previously, the government proposed and completed amendments on improvements such as ▲shortening the minimum years required for promotion ▲improving the seniority promotion system ▲expanding childcare time ▲increasing annual leave for low-tenure public officials.

Through this additional amendment, the government plans to extend the period of official sick leave for public officials performing hazardous duties who suffer from illness or injury from the current maximum of 5 years to up to 8 years.

Furthermore, high school graduates without a bachelor's degree will be able to obtain one by utilizing study leave. Under the current law, study leave is limited to 2 years, making it impossible to attend a four-year daytime university. However, now, if a person without a degree takes study leave for the purpose of obtaining a bachelor's degree from a domestic university, the leave period will be extended to 4 years.

'Workplace harassment' has been defined as a subject for grievance handling, allowing incidents to be reported to audit departments, etc. This includes prohibiting disadvantageous treatment due to such incidents, mandatory fact-finding investigations, and necessary measures based on investigation results. In addition, a basis has been established to notify victims of sexual misconduct appeal cases of the fact that the disciplined public official has filed an appeal and the decision of the appeal committee upon the victim's request. Also, when preparing for leave, retirement preparation training dispatch, or retirement linked with annual leave or other vacations, the amendment allows for filling vacancies from the leave or dispatch start date to reduce the burden on the public officials who temporarily take over duties.

Minister Lee Sang-min stated, "With this amendment, public officials performing hazardous duties will have sufficient time to treat illnesses or injuries incurred in the line of duty," and added, "We will continue to improve the personnel system to create an environment where public officials can focus on their duties."

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