This file photo provided by WeWork Korea shows its coworking location in Yeouido, Seoul.
SEOUL, May 18 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Health Promotion Institution jointly announced on Tuesday the launch of a new ‘health-friendly firm certification system’ this year.
Under this system, the government will provide certificates to companies that strive to create a health-friendly culture and environment, as well as to encourage employees to actively improve their own health management.
The certificates will be issued on the basis of document and on-site evaluations and the process of deliberation and resolution.
Health-friendly firm will be categorized into three types — large, middle and small businesses. The evaluation will focus on four areas, including health-friendly management, health-friendly culture, health-friendly activities and employee satisfaction.
Among the companies that acquire the certificate, ‘best practice’ firms will receive government awards, as well as the chance to publicize themselves as exemplary cases.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the working hours of South Korean employees averaged 1,908 hours in 2020, more than 200 hours longer than the OECD’s average of 1,687 hours.
On the basis of an eight-hour work day, South Korean workers work 27.6 days more than their counterparts in other OECD countries.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
