Korea Reduced Working Hours for Childcare

Starting in 2025, there will be several important changes to the Reduced Working Hours for Childcare system. The key changes are:

1. Expanded Age Eligibility
   • Previous: Available for employees with children under 8 years old or in 2nd grade.
   • New: Available for employees with children under 12 years old or in 6th grade.
2. Extended Maximum Usage Period
   • Previous: Up to 2 years, including unused parental leave.
   • New: Up to 3 years, considering double the unused parental leave.
3. Flexible Application Period
   • Previous: Only available in 3-month increments.
   • New: Now available in 1-month increments for more flexibility.
4. Annual Leave Calculation Change
   • Previous: Annual leave decreased based on reduced working hours.
   • New: Annual leave remains unchanged, regardless of reduced hours.
5. Expanded Scope
   • Employees who previously used both parental leave and reduced working hours before October 2019 can now use the new system.

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Note: Starting in 2025, the following rules apply to the reduction of working hours:

• Maximum Reduction: Up to 15 hours per week, with reductions of 1-5 hours per day.
• Minimum Work Requirement: At least 15 hours per week must be worked, e.g., for a 40-hour workweek, employees can reduce to 25 hours.