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Laws of the Republic of Korea |
ACT ON EQUAL EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT FOR WORK-FAMILY RECONCILIATION
Act No. 3989, Dec. 4, 1987
Wholly amended by Act No. 6508, Aug. 14, 2001
Amended by Act No. 7564, May 31, 2005
Act No. 7822, Dec. 30, 2005
Act No. 8372, Apr. 11, 2007
Act No. 8781, Dec. 21, 2007(Amended from the "Act on Equal Employment")
CHAPTER
General Provisions
Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to realize gender equality in employment in compliance with the idea of equality in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea by ensuring equal opportunity and treatment for men and women in
employment, while protecting maternity and promoting women
employment, as well as to contribute to improve the quality of
life
for all the people by providing support for the
reconciliation of work and family life for workers.
Article 2 (Definition)
The definition of terms to be used in this Act shall be as
follows:
(1) The term ßÖdiscriminationß×means that an employer
applies different conditions of employment or work to workers, or
takes any
other disadvantageous measures against them without
any reasonable reasons on account of sex, marriage, status
within family, pregnancy,
or child-birth, etc. (including the case
where even if an employer applies the same hiring or working
conditions to males and females,
if the number of males or
females who can meet the conditions is considerably less than
that of the opposite sex, if this causes
a disadvantageous result
to either sex, and if the conditions applied can not be justified
as fair ones, it shall constitute a
discrimination): Provided,
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That excluding the case corresponding to any one of the
following items:
(a). In case a worker of a specific sex is inevitably
needed in view of the character of a job; and
(b). In case measures are taken to protect the maternity
of working women in their pregnancy, childbirth,
child-feeding, etc.; and
(c) Other cases where taking an affirmative action
measure under this Act or other Acts.
(2) The ßÖSexual Harassment in the workplace refers to a
situation where an employer, a senior, or a worker makes other
worker
feel sexually humiliated or offended by using sexually
charged behavior or language using their higher status at work
or in relation
to work, or gives disadvantages in employment
on account of no-response to the sexual gesture or other
requests.
(3) The "affirmative action measure" means a measure to
favorably treat the specific sex temporarily in order to measure
to get
rid of the existing employment discrimination between
men and women or to promote the employment equality.
(4) The "worker" means
a person employed by an employer
and a person having the intention to work.
Article 3 (Scope of Application)
(1) This Act shall apply to all business or workplace using
workers (hereinafter referred to as ßÖbusinessß×); Provided that the
business as prescribed by Presidential Decree shall be exempt
from the application of part or all of this Act.
(2) Unless otherwise provided for specially by other laws
regarding the realization of gender equality in employment and
reconciliation
of work and family life, this Act shall apply.
Article 4 (Responsibility of the State and Local Governments)
(1) The State and local governments shall promote the people's
interests
and understanding to realize the purposes of this Act,
support skills development and employment promotion for
women, and make
efforts necessary to eliminate all elements
undermining the realization of gender equality in employment.
(2) The State and local
governments shall support workers and
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employers' efforts to reconciliate work and family life, and make
efforts to raise financial resources and prepare conditions necessary
for the reconciliation of work and family life.
Article 5 (Responsibility of Workers and Employers)
(1) Workers shall make efforts to create workplace culture,
where men and women
are equally respected based on mutual
understanding.
(2) Employers shall make efforts to create working
environment where men and women workers can show their
ability in equal conditions
by improving practices and institutions
undermining the realization of gender equality in employment.
(3) Employers shall make
efforts to improve practices
and institutions in the workplace undermining the reconciliation
of work and family life, and create
working environment that
can support the reconciliation of work and family life.
Article 6 (Establishment, etc. of Measures)
(1) The Minister of Labor shall establish and carry out the
measures in each subparagraph below to realize gender equality
in employment
and the reconciliation of work and family life:
1. Public relations intended to raise awareness on gender
equality in employment;
2. Selection of and administrative and financial support for
companies having exemplary practices of gender equality
in employment
(including the excellent companies in
affirmative action measure under the provisions of Article
17-4);
3. Set-up and implementation of a campaign period for gender
equality in employment;
4. Survey and research to eliminate gender discrimination
and expand employment of women;
5. Improvement of institutions and administrative and
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financial support for maternity protection and the reconciliation
of work and family life; and
6. Other measures necessary to realize equal employment
and the reconciliation of work and family life
(2) The Minister of Labor shall make efforts to reflect opinions
of the persons concerned in setting up and carrying out the
measures
in paragraph (1), and if it is deemed necessary, he
may ask for cooperation from the heads of competent administrative
bodies,
local governments and public organizations.
Article 6-2 (Establishment of a Basic Plan)
(1) The Minister of Labor shall establish a basic plan on
the realization of equal employment and the reconciliation of
work and
family life (hereinafter referred to as ßÖbasic planß×).
(2) The basic plan as referred to in paragraph (1) shall
include the following
items:
1. Matters on women employment promotion;
2. Matters on ensuring equal opportunity and treatment for
men and women;
3. Matters on settlement of practices of paying equal wages
for the work of equal value;
4. Matters on skills development for women;
5. Matters on maternity protection of women workers;
6. Matters on reconciliation of work and family life;
7. Matters on installation and operation of welfare facilities
for women workers; and
8. Other matters considered by the Minister of Labor to be
necessary for realization of gender equality in
employment and reconciliation of work and family life.
Article 6-3 (Conducting Research on Actual Conditions)
(1) The Minister of Labor shall regularly conduct research to
know the current
state on elimination of gender discrimination,
maternity protection, and reconciliation of work and family life in
the workplace.
(2) Matters necessary for the survey according to paragraph
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(1), including the target group, period, contents, etc., shall be
determined by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Labor.
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CHAPTER
Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Treatment, etc. for
Men and Women in Employment
SECTION I
Equal Opportunity and Treatment for Men and Women
Article 7 (Recruitment and Hiring)
(1) An employer shall not discriminate against men or
women based on gender in recruitment and hiring.
(2) When recruiting and hiring female workers, an employer
shall not present nor demand certain physical conditions such
as appearance,
height, weight, etc., unmarried status, and other
conditions determined by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Labor
which are not
required to perform a certain job.
Article 8 (Wages)
(1) An employer shall pay the equal wage for the work of
equal value in the same business.
(2) The criteria for the work of equal value shall be the
skills, efforts, responsibility and working conditions, etc., required
to perform the work. And in setting the criteria, an employer
shall listen to opinions of a member representing employees at
the
Labor-Management Council as prescribed in Article
25.
(3) A separate business established by an employer for the
purpose of wage discrimination shall be considered the same
business.
Article 9 (Money and Goods, etc. other than Wages)
An employer shall not discriminate against men or women
in managing welfare
programs such as payment of money and
goods or loans other than wages in a bid to support workers
lives.
Article 10 (Training, Deployment and Promotion)
An employer shall not discriminate against men or women
in training, posting and promotion.
SECTION
Prohibition and Prevention of Sexual H arassm ent in the
W orkplace
Article 12 (Prohibition of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace)
Employers, senior workers or workers shall not engage in
Sexual
Harassment in the workplace.
Article 13 (Education To Prevent Sexual Harassment in the
Workplace)
(1) An employer shall conduct education in order to
prevent Sexual Harassment in the workplace (hereinafter
referred to as the
"education to prevent sexual harassment")
and to create a safe working environment for workers.
(2) Matters necessary for the contents,
methods, frequencies,
etc. of education to prevention sexual harassment shall be
determined by the Presidential Decree.
Article 13-2 (Entrustment of Education To Prevent Sexual Harassment
in the Workplace)
(1) The employer may conduct the education to prevent
sexual harassment by entrusting it to the institution
designated by the Minister
of Labor (hereinafter referred to
as the "education institution for sexual harassment
prevention").
(2) The education institution for sexual harassment
prevention shall be designated among the institutions
provided by the Ordinance
of the Ministry of Labor, and it
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shall have one or more of the lecturers provided by the
Ordinance of the Ministry of Labor.
(3) The education institution for sexual harassment
prevention shall conduct the education under the conditions
provided by the
Ordinance of the Ministry of Labor, keep
the data relating to conduct the education, including
education completion certificate
or the roster of persons
completing the education, etc., and deliver such data to the
employer or an educatee.
(4) The Minister of Labor may cancel the relevant
designation in case where the education institution for
sexual harassment prevention
falls under any of the
following subparagraphs:
1. Where the designation has been obtained by falsity
and other unlawful methods;
2. Where the instructor under the provision of
paragraph (2) has not been placed continuously for 6
months or longer without any
justifiable reasons.
Article 14 (Measures to be taken in case of Sexual Harassment in
the Workplace)
(1) An employer shall take a disciplinary measure and other
equivalent measures against a sexual harasser without delay
upon finding
Sexual Harassment in the workplace.
(2) An employer shall not take unfavorable measures such
as dismissal or other disadvantageous measures against a worker
who was
affected sexual harassment and a worker who has
raised the relevant protest.
Article 14-2 (Prevention of Sexual Harassment by Clients, etc.)
(1) If a worker whose work is closely related to clients, etc.,
has
felt sexually humiliated or offended by a verbal or physical conduct
of sexual nature while performing his/her work and requested
to
resolve the grievance, the worker shall make efforts to take possible
measures, such as changing the place of work, relocating
duties, etc.
(2) An employer shall not dismiss or take other disadvantageous
measures against a worker on the ground that he/she
claims to
have been victimized as prescribed in paragraph (1) or has refused
sexual demands, etc., from a client, etc.
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SECTION
Skills Development and Employment Promotion for
Women
Article 15 (Vocational Guidance)
Employment Security Office prescribed in Article 4 of the
Employment Security Act shall take measures necessary for
vocational
guidance, such as offering employment information and
survey and research materials on occupation in a bid to help
women choose
their job according to their aptitude,
competency, experiences and skills, and make smooth adaptations
to their jobs.
Article 16 (Skills Development)
The State, a local government and an employer shall guarantee
the equal opportunity to men and women in all forms of
skills development
training in a bid to develop and improve
women's vocational competency.
Article 17 (Employment Promotion for Women)
(1) The Minister of Labor may provide non-profit corporations
and organizations which establish and operate facilities to
promote
women's employment with a subsidy for all or part of
the necessary costs.
(2) The Minister of Labor may provide an employer
who conduct a project for women employment promotion, and an
employer who intends
to improve employment environment in the
workplace, such as establishing a women workers' lounge,
breast-feeding facilities, etc.
with a subsidy for all or part of the
necessary costs.
SECTION IV
Affirmative Action Measure
Article 17-2 (Skills Development and Employment Promotion
Support for Career-Break Women)
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(1) The Minister of Labor shall select occupations with
employment prospect and develop specialized training
and employment promotion
programs for career-break
women who leave their company on the ground of
pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, etc. but have an
intention to be reemployed (hereinafter referred to as
"career-break women").
(2) The Minister of Labor shall provide vocational
information, vocational training information, etc. for
career-break women through
Employment Security
Office prescribed in Article 4 of the Employment
Security Act, and offer services, including specialized
vocational guidance, vocational counseling, etc. to them.
Article 17-3
(Establishment, Submission, etc. of Implementation
Plan of Affirmative Action Measure)
(1) The Minister of Labor may request the employer falling
any of the following subparagraphs whose employed female
workers' ratio
by occupation is short of employment criteria
provided by industry and by scale in the Ordinance of the
Ministry of Labor, to establish
and submit an implementation
plan of affirmative action measure to improve discriminative
employment practice and system (hereinafter
referred to as the
"implementation plan"). In this case, the relevant employer shall
submit an implementation plan:
1. Head of public agencies and organizations prescribed
by the Presidential Decree; and
2. Employer of establishment hiring workers more than
the scale prescribed by the Presidential Decree.
(2) The employer falling under any of subparagraphs of
paragraph (1) shall submit the current state of male and female
workers
by occupation and by position to the Minister of Labor.
(3) The employer not falling under any of subparagraphs of
paragraph (1)
who intends to take an affirmative action measure
may prepare the current state of male and female workers by
occupation and an
implementation plan, and submit them to the
Minister of Labor.
(4) The Minister of Labor shall examine the implementation
plan submitted under the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (3),
and when
the relevant details are not clear or the efforts to
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improve discriminative employment practice are insufficient, and
it is deemed inappropriate as implementation plan, he/she may
request the relevant employer to supplement the implementation
plan.
(5) Matters necessary for the implementation plan under the
provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2), and the items in the
current
state of male and female workers, time and procedures
for submission, etc. shall be determined by the Ordinance of the
Ministry
of Labor.
Article 17-4 (Evaluation, Support, etc. of Implementation Results)
(1) The person who has submitted an implementation plan
under
the provisions of Article 17-3 (1) and (3) shall submit the
implementation results to the Minister of Labor.
(2) The Minister of Labor shall evaluate the implementation
results submitted under the provisions of paragraph (1), and
notify
the employer of the relevant outcome.
(3) The Minister of Labor may commend the enterprise of
excellent implementation results according to the evaluation
under the
provisions of paragraph (2) (hereinafter referred to as
the "excellent enterprise of active employment improvement
measure").
(4) The State and local governments may render administrative
and financial support to excellent enterprises of active
employment
improvement measure.
(5) The Minister of Labor may urge the employer of poor
implementation results according to the evaluation result under
the provision
of paragraph (2) to carry out the implementation
plan.
(6) The Minister of Labor may entrust the evaluation duty
under the provisions of paragraph (2) to institutions or
organizations
prescribed by the Presidential Decree.
(7) Matters necessary for items of the implementation results
under the provisions of paragraph
(1), time and procedure of
submission, and notification procedure for evaluation results under
the provisions of paragraph (2),
shall be determined by the
Ordinance of the Ministry of Labor.
Article 17-5 (Notice of Implementation Plan, etc.)
The employer who has submitted an implementation plan
under the provisions of
Article 17-3(1) shall take necessary
measures, including making notice of implementation plan and
the implementation results under
the provisions of Article
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17-4(1) so as to make the workers peruse them.
Article 17-6 (Cooperation on Affirmative Action Measures)
The Minister of Labor may request the heads of related
administrative
agencies to take necessary measures for the
correction or prevention of discrimination in case where he/she
admits that they are
necessary for efficient implementation of
affirmative action measures. In this case, the heads of related
administrative agencies
shall comply with them unless they
have any special reasons.
Article 17-7 (Affirmative Action Committee)
(1) The Affirmative Action Committee(hereinafter referred to
as the Committee) shall be established under the command of
the Minister
of Labor to deliberate on important matters on
active employment improvement measures.
(2) The Committee shall examine the matters under each of
the following subparagraphs:
1. Matters on female workers' employment criteria
under the provisions of Article 17-3 (1);
2. Matters on examination of implementation plans
under the provisions of Article 17-3 (4);
3. Matters on implementation result evaluation of
affirmative action measures under the provisions of
Article 17-4 (2);
4. Matters on commendation and support for excellent
enterprise of affirmative action measures under the
provisions of Article 17-4
(3) and (4); and
5. Other matters referred by the Minister of Labor on
affirmative action measures
(3) The Committee shall consist of not more than 10
members including the chairman.
(4) The chairman shall be the Vice Minister of Labor.
(5) The members shall consist of persons representing
workers, employers,
females and public interest, and be
commissioned or appointed by the Minister of Labor. In this
case, members representing public
interest shall be
commissioned or appointed from among those who have
profound knowledge and experience on employment equality
and those who are in the Grade III or higher public officials of
related central administrative agencies.
(6) Matters necessary for the qualification and tenure of the
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members and the operation of the Committee shall be
determined by the Presidential Decree.
Article 17-8 (Survey and Research etc. of Affirmative Action
Measures)
(1) The Minister of Labor may perform the projects,
including survey, research, education, publicity, etc. in order to
efficiently
perform the duties of affirmative action measures.
(2) The Minister of Labor may entrust a part of duties
under the provisions
of paragraph (1) to a person prescribed by
the Presidential Decree, if he/she deems it necessary.
CHAPTER
Maternity Protection
Article 18 (Support for Maternity Leave)
(1) The State shall provide those meeting certain conditions
among the workers who took the maternity leave or miscarriage
and
stillbirth leave pursuant to Article 74 of the Labor Standards
Act with the amount equivalent to the ordinary wages (hereinafter
referred to as ßÖmaternity leave benefits, etc.ß×) for the leave
period concerned.
(2) The maternity leave benefits, etc. paid under the
provisions of paragraph (1) shall be considered to have been
paid under the
provisions of Article 74 (3) of the Labor
Standards Act by an employer within the limit of the said
amount.
(3) Expenses required for paying the maternity leave
benefits, etc. under paragraph (1) may be borne by the finance
and the social
insurance under the Framework Act on Social
Security.
(4) When a female worker intends to receive maternity leave
benefits, etc., she shall actively cooperate in every procedure of
drawing up, confirming, etc. the related documents.
(5) Matters necessary for the conditions of, and duration and
procedure for
payment of maternity leave benefits, etc. shall be
determined separately by law.
Article 18-2 (Paternity Leave)
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(1) If a worker requests leave for his spouse's childbirth,
the employer shall grant him three-day leave.
(2) A worker shall not be eligible to request the leave
prescribed in paragraph (1), if thirty days or more have passed
after his
spouse's childbirth.
CHAPTER -2
Support for Work-Family Reconciliation
Article 19 (Childcare Leave)
(1) An employer shall grant childcare leave, if a worker
with a nursling or infant aged less than three years asks for leave
to
take care of the infant or toddler (hereinafter referred to as
"childcare leave") : Provided that this shall not apply in such cases
as prescribed by the Presidential Decree.
(2)The duration of childcare leave shall be one year or less.
(3) An employer shall neither dismiss and give other
unfavorable
treatment to a worker on account of taking
childcare leave as prescribed in paragraph (1), nor dismiss the
concerned worker during
the childcare leave period; Provided
that this shall not apply when the employer is not able to
continue his/her business.
(4) An employer shall allow an employee whose childcare
leave ends as prescribed in paragraph (1) to return to the same
work which
the employee used to do before the childcare leave
or to the work paying the equivalent level of wages. Also, the
period of the
childcare leave prescribed in paragraph (2) shall
be included in continuous service period of the employee.
(5) Matters necessary
for the application method, procedure,
etc. of childcare leave shall be determined by the Presidential
Decree.
Article 19-2 (Working Hour Reduction in Childcare Period)
(1) If a worker eligible to ask for childcare leave pursuant
to Article
19 (1) requests working hour reduction (hereinafter
referred to as "working hour reduction in childcare period") instead
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of childcare leave, the employer may allow working hour reduction.
(2) If an employer does not allow his/her worker to have
working
hour reduction in childcare period, he/she shall notify the
worker of the reason in writing and consult with the worker about
whether
he/she can help the worker by granting childcare leave or
taking other measures.
(3)If an employer allows his/her worker to have working
hour reduction in childcare period pursuant to paragraph (1), the
working
hours per week after the reduction shall be 15 hours or
more and not exceed 30 hours.
(4)The duration of working hour reduction in childcare
period shall be less than one year.
(5)An employer shall not dismiss or give other
disadvantageous treatment to the concerned worker on a count of
working hour reduction in childcare period.
(6) After the duration of working hour reduction in
childcare period is over, the employer shall allow the worker to
return to
the same work or the work offering the same level of
wage before working hour reduction in childcare period.
(7) Matters necessary
for the method, procedure, etc. of
application for working hour reduction in childcare period shall be
determined by the Presidential
Decree.
Article 19-3 (Working Conditions, etc., of Working Hour Reduction
in Childcare Period)
(1) An employer shall not make working conditions
disadvantageously for a worker who has working hour reduction in
childcare period
pursuant to Article 19-2, on account of working
hour reduction except a case is applied in proportion to working
hours.
(2) As for a worker whose working hour has been reduced
in childcare period pursuant to Article 19-2, working conditions
(including
working hours after working hour reduction in childcare
period is over) shall be determined between the employer and the
worker
in writing.
(3)An employer shall not assign overtime work to a worker
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whose working hours are reduced during childcare period besides
the reduced working hours : Provided that when the worker makes
an explicit request, the employer may have the employee work
overtime not exceeding 12 hours a week.
(4) When calculating the average wage of a worker whose
working hours have been reduced during childcare period, in
accordance
with subparagraph 6 of Article 2 of the Labor Standards
Act, the duration of working hour reduction during childcare period
shall
be excluded from the period for calculation of the worker's
average wages.
Article 19-4 (Form of Using Childcare Leave and Working Hour
Reduction during Childcare Period)
When a worker has chaildcare leave or working hour
reduction during childcare leave according to Article 19 and 19-2,
she may choose
and use one of the methods in the following
subparagraphs. In this case, whatever method will be used, the
overall period shall
not exceed one year:
1. One-time use of childcare leave;
2. One-time use of working hour reduction during childcare
leave;
3. Divided use of childcare leave (one-time only);
4. Divided use of working hour reduction during childcare
leave; and
5. One-time use of childcare leave and one-time use of
working hour reduction during childcare leave
Article 19-5 (Other Measures to Support Childcare)
(1) An employer shall make efforts to take measures falling
under any of the
following subparagraphs with the aim of
supporting the childcare of a worker who fosters a preschool-child:
1. Adjusting business opening and closing time;
2. Restricting overtime;
3. Adjusting working hours, including reducing working
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hours, flexible operation, etc.; and
4. Other measures necessary to support the childcare of the
worker concerned
(2) When an employer takes measures stipulated in
paragraph (1), the Minister of Labor may provide necessary support
in consideration
of employment effect, etc.
Article 19-6 (Employer's Support for Return-to-work)
An employer shall make efforts for a worker who is on
childcare leave according
to this Act in the worker's skills
development and enhancement, and provide support for a worker
who completes maternity leave,
childcare leave or working hour
reduction during childcare period and returns to work to adjust to
work.
Article 20 (Support for Work-Family Reconciliation)
(1) When an employer allows a worker childcare leave or
working hour reduction
during childcare period, the State may
provide support for part of living costs of the worker concerned
and part of employment
retention costs of the employer
concerned.
(2) The State may provide aid through tax and finance for
an employer who introduces a measure to support the
reconciliation of
work and family life for the worker concerned.
Article 21 (Installation, Support, etc. of Workplace Childcare
Facilities)
(1) An employer shall install childcare facilities necessary for
child-rearing such as breast-feeding, childcare, etc. (hereinafter
referred to as ßÖworkplace childcare facilitiesß×) to support
employment of workers.
(2) The matters on the installation and operation of
workplace childcare facilities, including the scope of employers
required
to install workplace childcare facility, shall be in
accordance with the Infant Care Act.
(3) The Minister of Labor shall provide support and guidance
necessary to install and operate workplace childcare facilities at
work provided in paragraph (1). to promote employment of
workers.
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Article 21-2 (Other Support related to Childcare)
The Minister of Labor, in case an employer except for an
employer required to
install workplace childcare facilities according
to Article 21, intends to do so, may provide information,
counseling, part of
expenses, etc. necessary to install and operate
workplace childcare facilities.
Article 22 (Installation of Public Welfare Facilities)
(1) The State or a local government may install a public
welfare facility
for education, childcare, housing, etc. for working
women.
(2) Matters necessary for the standard and operation of
public welfare facilities prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be
determined
by the Minister of Labor.
Article 22-2 (Support for Workers' Family Caring, etc.)
(1) In case a worker needs to take care of his/her family
on account of
the family member's illness, accident, ageing, etc., an
employer shall make efforts to take a measure falling under any of
the
following subparagraphs:
1. Leave to nurse family;
2. Adjustment of starting and closing time of work;
3. Limitation on overtime;
4. Adjustment of working hours, including reduction and
flexible operation of working hours; and
5. Other support measures according to workplace
conditions
(2) An employer shall make efforts to provide necessary
psychological counseling service in order to help his/her workers
soundly
maintain work and family.
(3) In case an employer takes a measure according to
paragraph (1), the Minister of Labor may provide necessary support
in consideration
of employment effects, etc.
Article 22-3 (Laying the Foundation of Support for Work-Family
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Reconciliation)
(1) In order to provide support for the introduction and
spread of work-family reconciliation programs, smooth operation of
maternity
protection measures, etc., the Minister of Labor shall
conduct projects, including research, study and public relations, and
provide
professional counseling service, related information, etc. for
employers and workers.
(2) The Minister of Labor may entrust public institutions or
the private sector with the task as prescribed in paragraph (1) and
the task related to the support for installing and operating
workplace child-care facilities as determined by the Presidential
Decree.
(3) The Minister of Labor may provide support for
expenses used in task performance to an organization which is
entrusted a task
according to paragraph (2).
CHAPTER
Prevention and Mediation of Disputes
(1) The Minister of Labor may provide a private organization
conducting a counselling service on discrimination, sexual
harrassment
at work, maternity protection, work-family
reconciliation, etc. with support for part of the necessary
expenses within the confines
of the budget.
(2) Matters necessary for the requirements to select the
organizations, the subsidizing criteria, subsidizing procedures
and interruption
of subsidizing etc. the expenses under
paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Ordinance of the
Ministry of Labor.
Article 24 (Honorary Equal Employment Inspector)
(1) The Minister of Labor may commission a person
recommended by both labor and management among the
workers in the workplace concerned
as an honorary equal
employment inspector(hereinafter referred to as ßÖHonorary
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Inspectorß×) in order to promote the equal employment at
workplace.
(2) An honorary inspector shall perform the jobs prescribed
in each subparagraph below.
1. Providing counselling and advice to a worker who is the
victim of discrimination or Sexual Harassment in the
workplace
2. Attendance in an autonomous check-up of equal employment
observance status and provision of guidance at the
concerned workplace
3. Recommending an employer to make improvement on the
law violations and reporting the violations to the authorities
concerned
4. Public relations activities and education on equal employment
system
5. Other jobs determined by the Minister of Labor to realize
the gender equality in employment
(3) An employer shall not take any disadvantageous measure,
including disadvantage in personnel management, to an
honorary inspector
for carrying out the rightful activities.
(4) The commissioning and decommissioning of an honorary
inspector and other necessary
matters shall be prescribed by the
Ordinance of the Ministry of Labor.
Article 25 (Autonomous Settlement of Disputes)
The employer shall strive for autonomous settlement thereof,
such as entrusting the settlement of predicament to the labor
and
management consultation council established in relevant
business place under the Act on the Promotion of Workers
Participation
and Cooperation, when a worker reports
predicament on matters under the provisions of Articles 7
through 13, 13-2, 14-2, 18 (4),
18-2, 19, Articles 19-2 through
19-6, 21, and 22-2.
Articles 26 through 29 Deleted.
Article 30 (Burden of Proof)
The burden of proof in settling the disputes related to this
Act shall be borne by the employer.
- 21 -
CHAPTER
Supplementary Provisions
Article 31 (Report and Inspection, etc.)
(1) The Minister of Labor may, if it is deemed necessary to
enforce this Act, order employers to make necessary reports and
submit
the related documents, or have the concerned public
official visit the workplace concerned to question the related
person or inspect
the related documents.
(2) When making such a visit as prescribed in the paragraph
(1), the concerned public official shall present a certificate showing
his/her authority to the related person.
Article 32 (Announcement on Implementation Status, etc. of Equal
Employment)
The Minister of Labor may, if it is deemed necessary to
ensure the effectiveness of this Act, announce the implementation
status
of equal employment and other survey results. However,
this shall not apply in case the announcement is restricted by
other Acts.
Article 33 (Keeping of Related Documents)
An employer shall keep the documents related to the matters
pursuant to this Act as determined by the Presidential Decree
for three
years.
Article 34 (Application to Dispatched Workers)
When the provision of Article 13(1) is applied to the workplaces
where dispatched workers are used pursuant to the Act relating
to Protection, etc. for Dispatched Workers, the using employer
prescribed in Article 2(4) of the Act relating to Protection, etc.
for Dispatched Workers shall be regarded as the employer
prescribed in this Act.
Article 35 (Subsidy for Expenses)
(1) The State, a local government and a public entity may
subsidize all or part of the expenses for the projects related to
the
promotion of women's employment and welfare within the
confines of the budget.
(2) The State, a local government and a public entity may,
if one who has received the subsidies in accordance with
- 22 -
paragraph (1) falls under any of the following subparagraphs,
wholly or partially revoke the decision to provide the subsidies,
and order a return of all or part of the already provided
subsidies:
1. when one used the subsidies for purposes other than the
originally intended project;
2. when one violated the contents(including the conditions,
in case there is any condition attached.) of the subsidy
provision decision;
and
3. when one received the subsidies through a false and
fraudulent method
Article 36 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority)
The Minister of Labor may delegate part of the authority
under this Act to
the heads of local labor administrations or
local governments, or entrust it to public entities as determined
by the Presidential
Decree.
CHAPTER
Penal Provisions
Article 37 (Penal Provisions)
(1) In case an employer discriminates against men or
women in workers' age limit, retirement and dismissal in
violation of Article
11, or concludes a labor contract which
expects retirement on the ground of women workers' marriage,
pregnancy and chidbirth, he/she
shall be punished by
imprisonment of 5 years or less or a penalty of 30 million won
or less.
(2) In case an employer commits an action in violation of
any of the following subparagraphs, he/she shall be punished
by imprisonment
of three years or less or a penalty of 20
million won or less:
1. In case an employer does not pay the equal wage for the
work of equal value in the same business in violation of Article
8(1);
2. In case an employer takes unfavorable measures such as
dismissal or other disadvantageous measures against a worker
who was affected
sexual harassment and a worker who has
raised the relevant protest in violation of Article 14(2);
3. In case an employer dismisses and gives other
- 23 -
unfavorable treatment to a worker on account of taking
childcare leave in violation of Article 19(3), or dismisses the
worker concerned
during the childcare leave without the reason
prescribed in the same paragraph;
4. In case an employer dismisses or give other
disadvantageous treatment to the concerned worker on a count
of working hour reduction
in childcare period in violation of
Article 19-2(5); and
5. In case an employer makes working conditions
disadvantageous for a worker who has working hour reduction
in childcare period
on account of working hour reduction,
except a case is applied in proportion to working hours in
violation of Article 19-3(1).
(3) In case an employer, in violation of Article 19-3(3),
without the concerned worker's making an explicit request,
assigns overtime
work to a worker whose working hours are
reduced during childcare period besides the reduced working
hours, he/she shall be punished
by a penalty of 10 million won
or less.
(4) In case an employer commits a violation act falling
under any of the following subparagraphs, he/she shall be
punished by a
penalty of 5 million won or less:
1. In violation of Article 7, in case an employer
discriminates against men or women based on gender in
recruitment and hiring,
or when recruiting and hiring female
workers, in case an employer presents or demands certain
physical conditions, including appearance,
height, weight, etc.,
unmarried status, etc., which are not required to perform a
certain job;
2. In violation of Article 9, in case an employer
discriminates against men or women in managing welfare
programs such as payment
of money and goods or loans other
than wages in a bid to support workers lives;
3. In violation of Article 10, in case an employer
discriminates against men or women in training, posting and
promotion;
4. In violation of Article 19(1) and (4), in case an employer
does not grant childcare leave, after a worker asks for leave to
take
care of a nursling or infant, or in case an employer does
not allow an employee whose childcare leave ends to return to
the same
work which the employee used to do before the
childcare leave or to the work paying the equivalent level of
wages;
5. In violation of Article 19-2(6), after the duration of
- 24 -
working hour reduction in childcare period is over, the
employer does not allow the worker to return to the same
work or the work
offering the same level of wage before
working hour reduction in childcare period; and
6. In violation of Article 24(3), in case an employer takes
any disadvantageous measure, including disadvantage in
personnel management,
to the worker concerned as an honorary
inspector for carrying out the rightful activities.
Article 38 (Joint Penal Provisions)
(1) If a juristic person's representative, agent, employer or
other employee commits an action as prescribed in Article 37
in connection
with the juristic personßÓs work, the penalty as
prescribed in same Article shall be imposed on the juristic
person as well as
the offender.
(2) If an individual's representative, agent, employer or other
employee commits an action as prescribed in Article 37 in
connection
with the individualßÓs work, the penalty as prescribed
in same Article shall be imposed on the individual as well as
the offender.
Article 39 (Fine for Negligence)
(1) An employer who engages in Sexual Harassment in the
workplace in violation of Article 12 shall be punished by a
fine for negligence
of ten million won or less.
(2) An employer who commits an action in violation of any
of the following subparagraphs shall be punished by a fine for
negligence
of 5 million won or less:
1. In violation of Article 14(1), in case an employer does
not take a disciplinary measure and other equivalent measures
without
delay upon finding Sexual Harassment in the
workplace;
2. In violation of Article 14-2(2), in case an employer
dismisses or takes other disadvantageous measures against a worker
on the
ground that he/she claims to have been victimized or has
refused sexual demands, etc., from a client, etc;
3. In violation of Article 18-2(1), in case an employer does
not grant his/her worker three-day leave even after the worker
requests
leave for his spouse's childbirth;
4. In violation of Article 19-2(2), in case when not allowing
the worker to have working hour reduction in childcare period, the
worker does not notify the worker of the reason in writing and not
- 25 -
consult with the worker about whether he/she can help the worker
by granting childcare leave or taking other measures; and
5. In violation of Article 19-3(2), in case an employer does
not determine working conditions in writing as for a worker
whose working
hour has been reduced in childcare period.
(3) Any person who falls under any one of the following
subparagraphs shall be punished
by a fine for negligence of
three million won or less:
1. A person who does not conduct education in order to
prevent Sexual Harassment in the workplace in violation
of Articles 13 (1);
2. A person who does not submit an implementation plan
in violation of Article 17-3(1);
3. A person who does not submit the current situation of
employment of male and female workers or submit it in
falsity in violation
of Article 17-3 (2);
4. A person who does not submitted an implementation
plan or submit it in falsity in violation of Article 17-4(1);
5. A person who does not actively cooperate in every
procedure of drawing up, confirming, etc. the related
documents in violation
of Article 18(4);
6. A person who refuses to report or submit the related
documents, report or submit it in falsity in violation of
Article 31(1);
7. A person who has refused, obstructed, or evaded the
inspection in violation of Article 31(1); and
8. A person who does not keep the related documents for
three years in violation of Article 33.
(4) The fine for negligence under paragraph (1) through (3)
shall be imposed and collected by the Minister of Labor as
prescribed
by the Presidential Decree.
(5) One who is dissatisfied with the imposition of a fine for
negligence under paragraph (4) may raise an objection against
Minister
of Labor within thirty days after the receipt of the
notification on the imposition.
(6) If a person who is imposed with a fine for negligence
pursuant to paragraph (4) raises an objection in accordance with
paragraph
(5), the Minister of Labor shall notify it without
delay to the competent court, which shall, upon receiving the
notification,
bring the case of fine for negligence to trial under
the Non-Contentious Case Litigation Procedure Act.
(7) If no objection is
made or no fine for negligence is paid
within the period in accordance with paragraph (5), the fine for
- 26 -
negligence shall be collected according to the examples of the
disposition of the national taxes in arrears.
ADDENDA
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its
promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 15 Omitted.
Articles 16 (Revision of Other Laws)
(1) through (9) Omitted.
(10) Parts of the Equal Employment Act shall be revised as
follows:
"Article 72 of the Labor Standards Act" as prescribed in
Article 18 (1) shall be changed to "Article 74 of the Labor
Standards
Act", and "Article 72 (3) of the Labor Standards Act"
as prescribed in the same Article shall be changed to "Article
74 (3) of
the Labor Standards Act."
(11) through (24) Omitted.
Article 17 Omitted
ADDENDA
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after its promulgation:
Provided that, Article 39(2)3 through 5 shall enter into force
one
year and six months after its promulgation.
Articles 2 (Revision of Other Laws)
(1) Parts of the Labor Standards Act shall be revised as
follows:
"Equal Employment Act" as prescribed in the proviso of
Article 74(3) shall be changed to "Act on Equal Employment
and Support for
Work-Family Reconciliation."
- 27 -
(2) Parts of the Employment Insurance Act shall be revised
as follows:
"Equal Employment Act" as prescribed in the part aside
from each subparagraph in Article 70(1) and the part aside
from each subparagraph
in Article 75 shall be changed to "Act
on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family
Reconciliation."
Article 5 (Relations with Other Acts)
Where other Acts cite the provisions of the previous
Enforcement Decree of the Act on Equal Employment and Support
for Work-Family
Reconciliation at the time of the enforcement of
this Decree, if this Decree includes the provisions corresponding to
them, this
Decree or the corresponding provisions of this Decree
shall be deemed to have been cited in lieu of the previous
provisions.
[Table] Imposition Criteria for Fines for Negligence by Type of Offense
(Relating to Articles 25 (3))
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