CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
The purpose of this Act is to promote economic activities and prevent career interruption of women, thereby contributing to financial independence of women and sustainable growth of the national economy.
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:
| 1. | The term "career-interrupted woman, etc." means any of the following persons: |
| (a) | A woman seeking a job after stopping economic activities for reasons, such as marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, care of family members, or working conditions; |
| (b) | A woman seeking a job without any experience of engaging in economic activities; |
| 2. | The term "promotion of economic activities" means various activities conducted by the State, local governments, educational institutions, enterprises, etc. to support participation of women in economic activities; |
| 3. | The term "prevention of career interruption” means various activities conducted to prevent women from discontinuing their economic activities for reasons, such as marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, care of family members, or working conditions. |
| Article 3 (Responsibility of the State and Local Governments) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall formulate comprehensive policies for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women, and prepare administrative and financial support plans, etc. necessary for such promotion. |
| (2) | When the State and local governments formulate and implement policies for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women, they shall take into consideration women's life cycle, maternity, characteristics of disabilities of women, and other relevant factors. |
| Article 4 (Responsibilities of Employers) |
| (1) | Employers shall endeavor to improve the working conditions and employment security of women to promote women's economic activities and prevent women’s career interruption. |
| (2) | Employers shall actively cooperate with the State and local governments in their policies to promote women’s economic activities and prevent women’s career interruption. |
CHAPTER II FORMULATION OF MASTER PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
| Article 5 (Formulation of Master Plans for Promotion of Economic Activities and Prevention of Career Interruption of Women) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor shall jointly formulate a master plan for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") every five years, after consultation with the heads of relevant central administrative agencies. |
| (2) | The master plan shall include the following matters: |
| 1. | Basic objectives and direction-setting of policies; |
| 2. | Current status and prospect of women's participation in economic activities and career interruption; |
| 3. | Major policy measures for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women; |
| 4. | Other matters necessary for the promotion of economic activities and career interruption of women, which are prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (3) | When the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor formulate or modify a master plan, they shall submit the plan to the Gender Equality Council established under Article 11 of the Framework Act on Gender Equality for deliberation. |
| (4) | When the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor formulate a master plan, they shall report it to the competent Standing Committee of the National Assembly without delay. The same shall also apply to any modification of the master plan. |
| Article 6 (Annual Implementation Plans) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family, the Minister of Employment and Labor, and the head of a relevant central administrative agency shall formulate and implement an annual implementation plan (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") in accordance with the master plan. |
| (2) | The Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayors, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, and a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor") shall formulate and implement an annual City/Do implementation plan in accordance with the master plan. |
| (3) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor shall jointly inspect the progress of an implementation plan under paragraphs (1) and (2) each year. |
| Article 7 (Cooperation in Formulation and Implementation of Plans) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family, the Minister of Employment and Labor, the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies, and the Mayor/Do Governor may request the relevant central administrative agencies, local governments, public agencies, or any other corporations or organizations to provide cooperation, when necessary for the formulation and implementation of the master plan or implementation plans. |
| (2) | Any agency, corporation, and organization upon receipt of a request for cooperation pursuant to paragraph (1) shall cooperate therewith, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. |
| Article 8 (Fact-Finding Survey) |
| (1) | In order to formulate efficient policies for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family shall conduct a fact-finding survey on women's economic activities on a regular basis, and shall utilize the findings as basic data for the formulation of policies, such as reflecting the findings in the formulation of a master plan and an implementation plan in consultation with the Minister of Employment and Labor. |
| (2) | Matters necessary for the methods, details, etc. of the fact-finding survey under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family. |
| Article 9 (White Paper on Economic Activities of Women) |
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor shall publish a white paper on women's economic activities every year, including women's wages, occupational categories, employment pattern, and current status of career-interrupted women, etc.
CHAPTER III POLICY MEASURES FOR PROMOTION OF WOMEN’S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND PREVENTION OF CAREER INTERRUPTION
| Article 10 (Support for Job Creation) |
| (1) | The Government shall endeavor to create jobs including employment and business start-up that are suitable for the age, career, academic background, etc. of career-interrupted women, etc. |
| (2) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor shall formulate and implement policy measures to reduce gender pay gap and improve other working conditions, in order to enhance job quality for women. |
| Article 11 (Collection of Recruitment and Employment Information) |
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor shall collect information on job openings and job seekers related to women, make efforts to discover job openings and job seekers, and provide relevant information to job seekers, business owners, and related organizations, etc. to promote economic activities and prevent career interruption of women.
| Article 12 (Counseling on Women’s Career Design and Development for Each Life Cycle) |
For the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may provide support to ensure that women resources development centers and other institutions prescribed by Joint Ordinance of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (hereinafter referred to as “Joint Ordinance”) provide counseling, etc. on women's career design and development for each life cycle.
| Article 13 (Vocational Education and Training) |
| (1) | In order to promote women's economic activities and prevent women’s career interruption, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family may provide support that the women resources development centers and other institutions prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family provide vocational education and training to women. |
| (2) | The head of a local government may provide vocational education and training suitable for regional characteristics, in order to promote women’s economic activities and prevent career interruption of women. |
| (3) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may give support necessary for vocational education and training provided by the local governments under paragraph (2). |
| Article 14 (Support for Work Experience) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family may conduct projects for supporting work experience, such as internship support programs for enterprises, etc. to help career-interrupted women, etc. adapt to work. |
| (2) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family may provide necessary support to projects for supporting work experience that are conducted by the local governments. |
| (3) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family may formulate policy measures for supporting work experience and connecting the work experience to real jobs and may provide support therefor. |
| Article 15 (Projects for Prevention of Career Interruption) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor shall conduct the following projects to prevent women’s career interruption: |
| 1. | Projects to support the maintaining and development of women’s careers; |
| 2. | Projects for improving social and cultural awareness for the prevention of career interruption of women; |
| 3. | Projects for creating a work environment without gender discrimination; |
| 4. | Other projects deemed necessary by the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor for the prevention of women's career interruption. |
| (2) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may provide support to ensure that women resources development centers and other institutions prescribed by Joint Ordinance conduct projects for the prevention of career interruption under paragraph (1). |
CHAPTER IV SUPPORT CENTERS FOR WOMEN’S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
| Article 16 (Central Support Centers for Women’s Economic Activities) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may designate and operate a central support center for women's economic activities (hereinafter referred to as "central support center") to promote economic activities and prevent career interruption of women. |
| (2) | The central support center shall conduct the following projects: |
| 1. | Development and distribution of business programs, such as counseling and education for the prevention of career interruption; |
| 2. | Projects for improving social and cultural awareness and conducting public relations regarding the prevention of career interruption; |
| 3. | Development and distribution of business programs, such as counseling and education on support for employment and business start-up; |
| 4. | Development and distribution of programs for early adaptation to work for career-interrupted women, etc.; |
| 5. | Establishment and operation of a nationwide network with relevant institutions and enterprises for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women; |
| 6. | Evaluation and consulting on the support centers for women’s economic activities under Article 17; |
| 7. | Education and training of human resources and surveys on the working conditions of the support centers for women's economic activities under Article 17; |
| 8. | Other matters prescribed by Joint Ordinance. |
| (3) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may subsidize the central support center to cover the expenses incurred in conducting projects and operating business. |
| (4) | Detailed procedures and methods, including the standards for human resources, facilities, equipment, etc. required for designation under paragraph (1) and application for designation, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 17 (Support Centers for Women’s Economic Activities) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may designate and operate a support center for women's economic activities (hereinafter referred to as "support center") at the level of the Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, a Special Self-Governing City, a Do, a Special Self-Governing Province, or a Si/Gun/Gu (a Gu refers to an autonomous Gu) to conduct the following projects necessary for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women: |
| 1. | Provision of counseling and information on marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and return after a leave of absence, and career management; |
| 2. | Support for career interruption prevention programs, such as career development education for each life cycle, mentoring, and network building; |
| 3. | Provision of information and counseling on employment and business start-up; |
| 4. | Vocational education and training, job placement, and support for adaptation to workplace after employment; |
| 5. | Provision of welfare services, including childcare support, and connection of such services; |
| 6. | Establishment and operation of networks at a regional level with relevant institutions and enterprises for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women; |
| 7. | Other projects necessary for the promotion of economic activities and prevention of career interruption of women. |
| (2) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may subsidize the support centers to cover expenses incurred in conducting their projects and operating their business. |
| (3) | Detailed procedures and methods including the standards for human resources, facilities, equipment, etc. required for designation under paragraph (1) and application for designation, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 18 (Revocation of Designation) |
| (1) | Where the central support center or a support center falls under any of the following cases, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may revoke the designation of such support center: Provided, That he or she shall revoke the designation in cases falling under subparagraph 1: |
| 1. | Where it has been designated by fraud or other improper means; |
| 2. | Where it fails to perform the designated affairs for at least one month without good cause; |
| 3. | Where it fails to meet the standards for designation provided for in Articles 16 (4) and17 (3); |
| 4. | Other cases where the Minister of Gender Equality and Family determines that it is unsuitable as the central support center or a support center, in consultation with the Minister of Employment and Labor. |
| (2) | Where the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor intends to revoke designation pursuant to paragraph (1), they shall hold a hearing. |
| (3) | Matters necessary for the detailed standards, procedures, etc. for the revocation of designation of the central support center or a support center shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
CHAPTER V SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
| Article 19 (Reporting and Inspections) |
| (1) | If necessary for inspections, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may order the central support center or a support center to file a report or submit data on its business affairs and property, or require public officials under their jurisdiction to access the relevant site, inspect documents, or take other necessary measures. |
| (2) | Any public official who conducts on-site or documentary inspections pursuant to paragraph (1) shall carry a certificate indicating his or her authority and produce it to the relevant parties. |
| Article 20 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority and Affairs) |
| (1) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may delegate part of his or her authority under this Act to a Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (the head of a Gu refers to an autonomous Gu), as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may entrust part of the affairs under this Act to an institution, a corporation, or an organization that intends to conduct the administrative affairs under this Act, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 21 (Cooperation of Relevant Agencies) |
The Minister of Gender Equality and Family and the Minister of Employment and Labor may, if deemed necessary for accomplishing the purpose of this Act, request the head of a relevant central administrative agency or the head of a local government to prepare necessary policy measures or take measures, with regard to any matters prescribed by Presidential Decree.
ADDENDA <Act No. 18549, Dec. 7, 2021>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (General Transitional Measures)
Article 3 (Transitional Measures concerning Mater Plan)
Article 4 (Transitional Measures concerning Fact-Finding Survey)
Article 5 (Transitional Measures concerning Central Support Center for Career-Interrupted Women)
Article 6 (Transitional Measures concerning Support Centers for Career-Interrupted Women)
Article 7 (Relationship to Other Statutes or Regulations)