The government wants to make maternity leave mandatory so expecting mothers do not have to engage in any awkward negotiations with their employer.
The government believes that is essential to achieve a rebound in Korea’s record-low birthrate, and discussions with related ministries have apparently started already.
Women who cannot afford to take maternity leave for financial or other reasons can apply to waive it. “In order to overcome the low birthrate, an environment must be created allowing parents to look after their babies securely for a certain period,” a senior official said.
That means parents can take up to two years of childcare leave between them if the mother and father alternate. Under current regulations, employers must authorize childcare leave if the worker’s child is less than eight years of age, but in reality employers often pressure workers to abandon or shorten their childcare leave or risk missing promotions.
A 2021 study by the Ministry of Employment and Labor showed that around one-third of workers feel it would be difficult to apply for childcare leave.
To make maternity leave mandatory, the ministry will have to tap into the employment insurance fund to compensate for a portion of the salaries of beneficiaries, which would mean massive expenditures, so it remains to be seen if the idea is feasible.
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