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THE ACT ON THE PROMOTION OF THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF THE CAREER-BREAK WOMEN

Act No. 9101, Jun. 5, 2008

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Act is to contribute to women's economic self-reliance and self-realization and the sustainable development of the national economy by promoting the economic activities of career-break women, etc. Article 2 (Definition)

The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

1. "Career-break women, etc." refer to those who want to be employed, among women who have discontinued their economy activities for such reasons as pregnancy, childbirth, childcare or taking care of their family member, or have never engaged in economic activities.

2. "Economic activity promotion" refers to all activities conducted by the State, local governments, educational organizations, companies, etc., to support people's in participation in economic activities and to prevent their career breaks. Article 3 (Obligations of the State, etc.)

The State and local governments shall establish comprehensive measures to promote the economic activities of career-break women, etc., and come up with administrative and financial support plans necessary for the implementation thereof. The State and local governments shall take account of women's life cycle, maternity, etc., in establishing and implementing measures to promote the economic activities of career-break women, etc.

Employers shall make efforts to create a working environment for promoting the economic activities of career-break women, etc.

Article 4 (Establishment of Basic Plan to Promote Economic Activities of Career-break Women, etc.)

The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor shall jointly establish a basic plan (hereinafter referred to as "the basic plan") on the promotion of the economic activities of career-break women, etc., every five years, in consultation with the heads of related central administrative agencies. The basic plan shall include the following:

1. Current state and future prospects of career-break women, etc.;

2. Major measures concerning economic activity promotion for career-break women, etc.; and

3. Other matters prescribed by the Presidential Decree in relation to economic activity promotion for career-break women, etc.

When the Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor establish the basic plan, they shall have it deliberated by the Women Policy Coordination Meeting (hereinafter referred to as "the Women Policy Coordination Meeting") under Article 11 of the Framework Act on Women's Development.

Article 5 (Annual Action Plan, etc.)

The head of a related central administrative agency shall establish and implement an annual action plan (hereinafter referred to as "the action plan") in accordance with the basic plan.

`The mayor of a special or metropolitan city or the governor of a province or special self-governing province (hereinafter referred to as "city mayor or provincial governor") shall establish and implement an annual action plan for the city or province in accordance with the basic plan.

The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor shall jointly make an annual review of the implementation of the action plans under paragraphs (1) and (2).

Article 6 (Cooperation on Establishment and Implementation of Plans) If necessary, the Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor, the heads of related central administrative agencies and city mayors and provincial governors may ask for cooperation from a related central administrative agency, a local government, a public institution or any other corporation or organization in establishing and implementing the basic plan or the action plan. The institution, corporation or organization which receives a request for cooperation pursuant to paragraph (1) shall give cooperation unless there exists a special reason. Article 7 (Fact-finding Survey on Economic Activities of Career-break Women, etc.) The Minister of Gender Equality shall regularly conduct a fact-finding survey on the economic activities of career-break women, etc. and reflect the results in the basic plan in order to establish an efficient policy to promote the economic activities of career-break women, etc.

Matters necessary for the methods, contents, etc., of the fact-finding survey under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Gender Equality.

Article 8 (Support for Job Creation)

The government shall make efforts to create jobs suitable for career-break women, etc. and increase the quality of their jobs.

Article 9 (Selection of and Support for Promising Occupations) The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor may select occupations promising for career-break women, etc. and provide support for women to be employed in such occupations.

Article 10 (Vocational Education and Training)

In order to promote the economic activities of career-break women, etc., the Minister of Gender Equality may provide support for an organization designated by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Gender Equality, such as a female workforce development institution, to provide vocational education and training for career-break women, etc.

In order to promote the economic activities of career-break women, etc., the head of a local government may provide vocational education and training that fit the local characteristics.

The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor may offer necessary support for the vocational education and training provided by a local government in accordance with paragraph (2).

Article 11 (Internship Support)

In order to ensure the vocational adaptation of career-break women, etc., the Minister of Gender Equality may conduct an internship support program in a public institution or an occupational area which shows low female employment. The Minister of Gender Equality may subsidize part or all of the costs of an internship support program carried out by a local government. Article 12 (Prevention of Career Breaks)

If an organization designated by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Gender Equality, such as a female workforce development institution, conducts a project to raise vocational consciousness and awareness with a view to preventing women's career breaks, the Minister of Gender Equality may provide necessary support. Article 13 (Designation of Career-break Women Support Center) The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor may designate or operate a career-break women support center (hereinafter referred to as "support center") which can provide comprehensive services, including counselling, information, employment and welfare services, in consideration of the characteristics of career-break women, etc.

Matters necessary for the designation and operation of the support center shall be prescribed by the Presidential Decree.

Article 14 (Reporting and Examination)

The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor, if it is deemed necessary for the supervision of a support center designated pursuant to Article 13, may order the center to report on its work and properties or present relevant documents, have a public official enter the premise or examine documents, or take other necessary measures.

A person who enters the premise or examines documents in accordance with paragraph (1) shall carry a certificate indicating his/her authority and show it to a related person.

Article 15 (Delegation and Entrustment)

The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor may delegate part of their authority given under this Act to a city mayor or provincial governor or the head of a Si, Gun or Gu (referring to the head of a self-governing county) under the conditions prescribed by the Presidential Decree. The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor may entrust part of their duties under this Act to an institution, corporation or organization which intends to perform the tasks under this Act, under the conditions prescribed by the Presidential Decree.

Article 16 (Cooperation from Related Agencies)

The Minister of Gender Equality and the Minister of Labor, if it is deemed necessary to achieve the purpose of this Act, may request the head of a relevant central administrative agency or local government to come up with or take necessary measures with regard to matters prescribed by the Presidential Decree. Addendum

This Act shall enter into force 6 months after the date of its promulgation.