In 2024, the Korean government is revamping its labor policies, including the resumption of support for regular employment conversion and the expansion of parental working hour reduction programs. Recent media reports have raised concerns that restarting the employment support fund could repeat past policy failures, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor has emphasized its commitment to enhancing effectiveness and closing labor market gaps. This year, the scope of support has been expanded to include companies with fewer than 30 employees, allowing more workers to benefit. The parental 10 a.m. start time and working hour reduction policies aim to improve work-life balance, especially for dual-income families.
The regular employment conversion support program, resumed after two years, provides up to KRW 600,000 per month for up to one year to companies that convert or directly hire contract, dispatched, or subcontracted workers who have worked for at least six months. Small and medium-sized business owners who allow parental working hour reductions receive KRW 300,000 per month per employee. To compensate for reduced wages, the maximum standard salary for a 10-hour weekly reduction is raised to KRW 2.5 million, and for other reductions, to KRW 1.6 million. Parental leave support is also increased: companies with fewer than 30 employees receive up to KRW 1.4 million per month, while those with 30 or more employees receive up to KRW 1.3 million.
The Ministry is strengthening laws, systems, and infrastructure to ensure equal pay for equal work, and supporting improved negotiations between contractors and subcontractors through revised labor union laws. Additional measures include the enactment of the Basic Rights Act for Workers to protect special and platform workers, enhanced supervision of non-regular workers, discrimination prevention, and ongoing consulting for employment structure improvement. The government plans to closely monitor policy effectiveness and adjust systems to ensure resources reach those in need. Stakeholders stress the importance of continuous monitoring and practical application of these policies.
Looking ahead, government labor policies are expected to focus on reducing structural gaps in the labor market and improving worker welfare. The expansion of regular employment conversion and parental working hour reduction policies is anticipated to positively impact both workers and businesses, especially small enterprises and dual-income families. Strengthening the foundation for work-life balance and ongoing system improvements based on field feedback will be key to policy success.