South Korea is putting extra emphasis on narrowing gender inequalities in the workplace.
Looking to stir other firms into action,... the nation's labor ministry has been dishing out awards to companies that have been stepping up to the plate to level the playing field between women and men.
Our Ko Roon-hee went out to check'em out and files this report.


Jung Sang-won has been working at a local company for six years.
About a year ago, Jung Sang-won was finally able to take a paternity leave of more than 10 days after the birth of his first child.

"When my wife was giving birth, we had to move to a different house. Because I was able to take ten days off work, I had enough time to take care my wife and settle in my new house."

Jung was able to take such a paternity leave because the company he works for quickly adopted the government's new policy on work conditions regarding child care effective this year.

Along with existing measures, the Ministry of Employment and Labor laid out its concrete plans in the revised employment equality ordinance last week.
It included the provision of extra vacation days for couples going through fertility procedures, guaranteeing maternity leaves for temporary and new employees… and expanding the ministry's policies on equal employment to businesses with fewer than 5 employees…starting next year.

"To promote gender equality in the workplace, the labor ministry on Wednesday awarded 16 local companies for their outstanding efforts in the area."

These firms are being commended for hiring more women and supporting pregnant workers before and after they've given birth.
But the labor minister pointed out that there is still room for improvement when it comes to helping women balance work and family.

"For women to continue working after childbirth, the government should facilitate child rearing for them. This means building more public workplace nurseries and daycare centers throughout the nation."

Parents welcome this news…saying this kind of support is needed not only in large conglomerates but also in small and medium sized businesses.

"If working moms take their children to local nurseries, they need an extra person to take care of children until they get off work. If there are more workplace nurseries, women will be able to take care of them on their own."

The ministry adds that practical changes at workplaces especially those tailored for newlyweds and first-time parents, will greatly boost the nation's chronic low birth rate and increase the percentage of working age population.

Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News.