The current government set 70% of the employment rate as the national target when it first took office. The government recognized that the employment rate of women which is 20%p lower than that of men should be increased to achieve the employment rate...
The current government set 70% of the employment rate as the national target when it first took office. The government recognized that the employment rate of women which is 20%p lower than that of men should be increased to achieve the employment rate of 70%; and implemented the nation-wide measure to support career maintenance of working women at each life stage, in order to increase the employment rate of women. The government policy to increase the employment rate of women stimulated discussions on the work-life balance of male and female workers, and the scope of the policy was also expanded to include the above. This is attributed to building of the social consensus that the employment rate of women should be increased for the work-life balance of the society rather than just for women, as Korea faces a rapid decline of the employment rate due to career-interruption of women, caused by pregnancy, childbirth and child care, which has not been witnessed in any other countries. The discussion on the work-life balance of workers, which began with increase of the employment rate of women, is being evolved into the paradigm shift of the society to improve the quality of life of all citizens amid aging and the low birth rate. As a result of the government s powerful and wide policy efforts for the work-life balance of workers, based on the social consensus, men accounted for over 5% of all workers who took the parental leave in 2015, which is 13 years after the parental leave benefit was adopted in November 2001. The percentage of 5% indicates that male workers who take the parental leave will and should increase further. The systems which should be operated for the work-life balance are represented by the maternity leave system and the parental leave system. In addition, Korea has also adopted the system of reduced working hours during the period of child care, the paternity leave system, employer-supported child care centers and the system of reduced working hours for a pregnant employee, which match the level of advanced countries systems enabling the work-life balance of workers. The current government expanded, reinforced and adopted the maternity protection system of workers. Against this backdrop, this research analyzed the recent trends of research on related systems. This research aimed to identify policies actually adopted and those which were not; and identify areas to be improved by businesses and the society and new policies to be adopted through analysis on previous studies. The scope of maternity protection system of workers was limited to the maternity leave system, the parental leave system, the system of reduced working hours during the period of childcare, employer-supported childcare centers, the paternity leave system and the system of reduced working hours for a pregnant employee. This research includes the following policy suggestions based on analysis on the status of use of the described systems and the comparative analysis on the results of related researches. First, the support for employees and employers should be expanded, the number of days of paternity leave should be increased, the parental leave of men should be expanded and mandated, and establishment and support of employer-supported childcare centers should be provided, in order to support female workers return to the labor market and their career maintenance as well as the paternity right of male workers.