KoPHWA, in collaboration with congresswomen KIM Mi-ae and NAM In-soon, hosted the "The 2nd Population Forum with Private Sector" on 12th December at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare(MOHW) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor(MOEL).

□ According to statistics from the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs), 99.9% of all businesses in South Korea are SMEs, employing 80.9% of the nation's workforce.

○ Among them, women with young children or with multiple children encounter challenges in maintaining employment. In particular, the female employment rate for those with children aged 6 or younger is only 52.3%.

□ The forum was organized to discuss ways to improve maternity protection and work-life balance for workers in SMEs, many of which are not adequately addressed by current policies.

Key Presentations

- Improving the Work Environment for Work-Life Balance in SMEs.

- Proposals for Creating Workplaces that Support Childbirth and Childcare

□ The first part of the forum featured presentations on improving work environments for work-life balance in SMEs and creating workplaces conducive to childbirth and childcare.

○ The National Assembly Research Service(NARS) emphasized that, to improve the work environment for work-life balance in SMEs, efforts should focus on ensuring job stability for women, alleviating the dual structure of the labor market, implementing gender-neutral work-life balance policies, and strengthening labor time regulations.

○ The Special Committee on Workplace Harassment Related to Childbirth and Childcare pointed out the ongoing issue of workplace harassment in the workplace, which disproportionately affects women.

- They also argued that future policies should not just focus on increasing birth rates but also consider gender equality, promoting shortened working hours to prevent career interruptions for all caregivers.

Case Presentations

- Seoul City’s ‘Work-Life Balance Point System’

- Case Studies of Work Innovation after Implementing Work-Life Balance Policies in SMEs

- Best Practices in Utilizing Policies for Maternity and Childcare.

- Directions for Maternity Protection and Work-Life Balance Policies

□ Next, case presentations were shared.

○ Seould City(Women and Family Office) introduced the "SME Work-Life Balance Point System," which offers incentives such as ‘substitute personnel support’, ‘encouragement payments for colleagues filling in for employees on parental leave’ to SMEs implementing family-friendly policies.

○ Malang Honey Co. Ltd. shared its work innovation experience following the introduction of work-life balance support policies, stating that a stable work environment has led to the acquisition of top talent, driving company growth and creating a positive cycle of re-investment in better benefits.

○ Damayo Pack Inc. Ltd. emphasized that the company's work-life balance policies significantly improved employees' quality of life and contributed to family happiness.

○ MOEL(Dual Labor Market Improvement Division) explained MOEL’s direction for maternity protection and work-life balance policies, including enhanced income support, expanded parent-child care initiatives, flexible working environments for sufficient childcare time, and government support to reduce the burden on SMEs.

□ Lee Sam-sik, president of KoPHWA, stated, "Maternity protection and work-life balance are crucial for working parents to maintain their careers while spending valuable time with their families." He expressed hope that the forum would serve as an opportunity to discuss and find solutions for creating a supportive work environment for parents and families.

Latest Updates

The 2nd Population Forum with Private Sector - Do Working Parents Have Time for Their Families?