[Reporter’s Notebook] Work-Life Balance Remains Out of Reach for Small Business Owners

"I hesitate to get married because there is no one to take over my work during childbirth and childcare. Due to the lack of childcare-related policies for small business owners, it's common for us to end up closing our businesses because we simply can't endure."

A woman in her 30s, who has been running a cookie shop for nine years, shared these concerns at a meeting with Minister Han Sung-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, held at a cafe in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 12th. She lamented that although the government and local authorities have consistently improved maternity and parental leave systems, these remain irrelevant for small business owners. Parental leave operates within the framework of employment insurance, making it difficult for self-employed individuals who are not required to enroll in employment insurance to receive benefits. The concept of work-life balance is seen as a slogan that only applies to salaried employees, belonging to a completely different world.

The word most frequently mentioned by small business owners who met with Minister Han that day was "gap." From business gaps caused by childcare to gaps in caregiving during working hours, the various types of gaps encountered at critical moments ultimately force individuals to choose between work and family. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics' Economically Active Population Survey, the proportion of self-employed individuals in their 30s is 11.8%, and those in their 40s account for 18.2%. About 30% of the self-employed are in age groups that experience childbirth and childcare, yet the consensus is that support systems for these individuals remain largely ineffective.

The faces of small business owners at the meeting reflected cynicism and a sense of helplessness regarding this reality. Even more bitter were the voices of self-blame, such as, "If only I had worked at a company like others," or "If at least one of us was a salaried worker." Jang Mihwa, CEO of Plan J, who works as a party planner and is raising a 15-month-old baby, said, "The 1.5 million won support payment provided to freelancers did not apply to my husband, who is self-employed," adding, "Compared to company employees who can take parental leave, this amount is truly insufficient."

The criteria for maternity benefits paid to those not covered by employment insurance are also limited in effectiveness, as they apply only to certain groups such as single-woman business owners, freelancers, and special employment workers. Kim Nanju, a research fellow at the Korean Women's Development Institute, stated, "For small business owners, this issue is a harsh 'all or nothing' reality," and suggested, "While it may be difficult to apply the same systems as salaried workers, it is worth considering alternative measures such as a substitute workforce bank to at least broaden their options."

During the meeting, Minister Han promised, "We will create stepping stones to help small business owners maintain their businesses and grow to the next level." The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to continue policy consultations with financial authorities to this end. The challenge lies in the speed and outcome. The government has made such promises before. It is hoped that Minister Han and the government will remember and reflect on the weary expressions and voices of those who, after much hesitation and doubt, end up giving up and letting go.

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