Gov’t seeks to mandate flexible work arrangements by law

President Yoon Suk-yeol presides over the 4th Population Emergency Response Meeting under the theme ‘Sharing Best Practices of Work-Family Balance Companies’ at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 25th. (Yonhap)

The South Korean government is pushing for legislative changes to allow pregnant or parenting workers to take advantage of flexible work arrangements, such as working from home. The move aims to promote a better balance between work and family life, which is seen as a key factor in reversing the nation’s record-low birth rate.

The plan was unveiled during a meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday to address the country’s low birth rate and share the best practices of companies that excel in balancing work with family.

“In the July 2024 statistics released today, the number of newborns increased compared to the previous year, and the number of marriages hit 55,910 cases for the quarter, marking the second consecutive quarterly increase and the second-highest growth rate on record,” Yoon noted during the meeting. “Now that we have managed to ignite a spark in reversing the declining birth rate, the public and private sectors must work together to create a solid momentum moving to keep the progress going.”

Yoon also stressed the importance of companies in promoting work-family balance.

“The role of companies as workplaces is crucial,” he said. “It is not only companies that need to change their perceptions, but all those involved in companies and government authorities also need to shift their perceptions of companies and workplaces.”

“Supporting employees in pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing, as well as innovating work practices and culture, could be viewed as a cost to companies, but the success stories of many organizations show that it can also be a great opportunity to increase productivity and competitiveness as well as attract the best talent,” he stressed.

The government plans to institutionalize flexible working arrangements, such as telecommuting, staggered commutes, and flexible work hours, for employees who are pregnant or raising children to enable a true work-family balance.

Joo Hyung-hwan, vice chairman of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy that oversees the country’s birth rate policies, said that the government “plans to prepare a system for flexible work arrangements for pregnant and child-rearing workers, except in cases where it is unavoidably difficult due to the nature of the job, after discussions with the Economic, Social, and Labor Council.”

The government will also provide incentives to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are certified as family-friendly or excel in work-life balance, such as deferring regular tax audits by the National Tax Service. It will also make public daycare centers available to the local community.