In 2024, the Korean government is implementing various policies aimed at reducing labor market disparities and improving worker welfare. Recent media reports have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the regular employment conversion support program, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor has pledged to enhance its impact and diversify related policies. This year, new initiatives focus on protecting non-regular workers and supporting parental employees. These measures are expected to improve quality of life for workers and promote sustainable growth for businesses.
The regular employment conversion support program resumes after a two-year hiatus, now targeting companies with fewer than 30 employees. Employers who convert or directly hire contract, dispatched, or in-house subcontracted workers with over six months of service can receive up to KRW 600,000 per worker per month for one year. The government is also strengthening the principle of equal pay for equal work and supporting subcontractor bargaining through revised labor union laws. Additional efforts include enacting the Basic Rights Act for Workers, enhancing supervision of non-regular employment, preventing discrimination, and providing consulting for employment structure improvement.
Parental 10 a.m. start and working hour reduction policies are also being fully implemented this year. With more dual-income families, these policies aim to increase childcare opportunities and allow working hours to be reduced to 15–35 hours per week without wage loss. Small and medium-sized employers receive KRW 300,000 per month per reduced-hour worker, and wage compensation ceilings have been raised to KRW 2.5 million (for 10 hours reduced weekly) and KRW 1.6 million (for other reductions). The government extends substitute worker support for parental leave by one month for handover periods, with up to KRW 1.4 million per month for businesses with fewer than 30 employees and KRW 1.3 million for larger ones. Work-sharing support funds are also provided based on company size.
The government plans to closely monitor policy outcomes and continuously refine systems to ensure resources reach those in need. Ongoing efforts to build legal, institutional, and infrastructure support for labor market equity and worker rights are expected to bring positive changes for both employees and businesses. The diverse labor policies introduced this year signal a proactive approach to improving working conditions and strengthening social safety nets.