Working environment improvement campaign to find a balance between work and family
HOT ISSUES & NOTICE 2011. 10. 12. 16:24
- The first action of the working environment improvement campaign: Demand your maternity leave when you need it.
- The campaign kicks off on the 4th of May.
I got forced to resign the moment I told my boss that I would like to have a maternity leave. (Office Worker, Masan-Changwon)
The company insisted that they will not offer a new contract to employees who are possibly going to leave on maternity. (English Tutor, Seoul)
This is the picture of today. The female employment activity rate in South Korea is the lowest among OECD, and its graph is curved like a capital 'M', which cannot be seen in any other country but South Korea and Japan. The M-curve indicates that female workers tend to quit when they have a baby to take care of and do not begin to work again until the child hass sufficiently grown. The rate of female regular workers from ages 30 to 34 amounted to 57.9% last August, while more than two thirds of the entire female workforce are in temporary positions. The 30 to 34 age group comprises of the biggest portion of women regular workers among all other age groups, though it is nowhere near 69.1%, the rate of male regular worker at the same age. However, when women reach their forties, the rate falls sharply to 33.8%. This is thought to be because they try once more to look for employment,, but this time as a non-regular worker.
The Korean law ensures maternity leave and child-care leave. However, the sad part is that beyond their words, they put forth no practical effect. The great number of temporary employees does not make it better. To employers, childbirth is nothing but a burden despite families and society considering it a blessing. They consider pregnant employees as surplus, employees they cannot grossly overwork, while it is their secret goal to make a profit. Therefore, it becomes fairly difficult for Korean women to strike a balance between work and child-care at the very beginning of maternity leave, the sacred claim.
It reveals that those companies are not aware of the importance of individual workers and their social duty. On the other hand, the individual workers would devote themselves to the company that would give them a chance and will work out any obstacle for a better relationship between them. In the long run, it sounds a lot more reasonable that other members of the team divide up the work temporarily and give theirblessing to their colleague's new addition.. Also, one can never be sure that such an occasion will never occur. The slightest change in working environment can alter the future of our society.
Maternity leave is a just and inviolable right for women and new born babies.
About the working environment improvement campaign
1) The campaign is composed of ten associations: Korean Women Workers Association, Korean Women Association United, Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Korean Women's Solidarity, Woman Labor Law Support Center, Korean Women Trade Union, Women Resources Development Center, Korea YMCA, Seoul YWCA, and Korea YWCA.
2) The first movement, "Demand Your Maternity Leave When You Need It," is planned to begin on May 4th along with an inauguration. In 2012, the movements for the reduction of working hours and men's right to child-care are scheduled to be enacted.
3) Reality played the greatest role in launching the working environment improvement campaign; double income households have been becoming more unrealistic when they are needed more than ever. Working mothers hope to fill in the gaps. Not long after, however, they come across barriers such as compulsory retirement, low employment rate, wage gap, and the slim chance of being promoted. Moreover, their husbands are obligated to support their families, which then leaves them without time to spend with their loving families.
4) It is time for a change. We never anticipated such bitter reality. Working Environment Improvement Campaign fights for a balance between work and family. We expect a working environment that respects both maternal and paternal rights without any sort of sexual discrimination, for a higher quality of life.