Parental leave (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – A survey of South Korean office workers has revealed that an automatic parental leave system paired with income protection during leave is viewed as the most critical labor policy needed to address the nation’s chronically low birth rates.
According to the civic group Gabjil 119, which polled 1,000 office employees, 27.5 percent of respondents cited the introduction of automatic parental leave after maternity leave, along with income support during this period, as the top priority to encourage higher fertility rates.
The automatic parental leave scheme would initiate childcare leave immediately following the conclusion of maternity leave, without requiring additional applications.
Slightly behind at 26.4 percent was a call for reduced working hours, followed by stronger penalties for employers who discriminate against workers for pregnancy or childcare (24.1 percent), and expanding quality job opportunities by curbing excessive use of temporary positions (23.7 percent).
Analyzing the policy platforms of major parties contesting the upcoming legislative elections, Gabjil 119 found that while most addressed low birth rate countermeasures like automatic parental leave, only the Democratic Party, Green Party, and New Future Party proposed concrete plans to shorten working hours.
The assessment excluded satellite parties and focused on the top five caucuses by current seat count: the Democratic Party, People Power Party, Green Party, New Future Party, and Reform Party. Manifestos from the Democratic, People Power, and Green parties were examined, while the Reform and New Future platforms submitted to the National Election Commission were referenced.
Specific working hour reduction pledges included a four-day workweek from the Green Party, a 4.5-day week from the Democrats, and capping the legal workweek at 35 hours proposed by the New Future Party.
In contrast, the People Power Party’s labor pledges centered on facilitating a dialogue to extend paid holidays to workplaces with fewer than five employees but did not address shorter workweeks. The Reform Party’s top ten promises also omitted parental leave or working hour policies.
“Countless office workers lament being unable to have and raise children without a reduction in legal working hours, yet the government and ruling party have failed to adequately address this plea,” stated Gabjil 119. “The incoming 22nd National Assembly must prioritize and deliver on working hour reforms.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
