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To curb the low birth rate, the government decided to create a new child allowance and increase parental leave benefits from 2022. A couple walks with a child in a large shopping center in Gyeonggi-do. [한주형 기자]Starting in 2022, the government has decided not only to create a new child allowance, but also to significantly expand the benefits of parental leave. According to the ‘IV Basic Plan for Low Fertility and the Aging Society (2021 ~ 2025)’, announced by the government on the 15th, starting in 2022, if parents with children under 12 months take parental leave for three months at the same time, the sum of the pairs will be up to 6 million won per month. You will be able to receive the benefits of parental leave.
The goal is to double the number of parental leave users, currently 100,000 people, by 2025 creating the conditions for parents to raise their children together. However, since such parental leave system applies only to employment insurance subscribers, there may not be many classes that can actually use this system.
According to the government reorganization policy, starting in 2022, if parents take parental leave at the same time for their 0-year-old child, they can receive parental leave benefits for the first three months each, 100% of her normal salary and up to 3 million won per month. In short, the parental leave payment is up to 6 million won per month, which is a significant increase of 2 million won compared to existing support. Under the current system, when both men and women take parental leave sequentially for the same child, they receive up to 4 million won. During the first three months after giving birth, the maximum parental leave benefit used by women was up to 1.5 million won per month, and the second parental leave used primarily by men was up to 2.5 million won per month for the first three months.
The government plans to distribute joint parental care to parents receiving more salaries than if only one parental leave for one month (maximum 2 million won per month) or two months (maximum 2.5 million won per month) for both parents. be be. In other words, the sum of parental leave benefits received when a couple takes parental leave together due to childbirth is 4 million won per month of age, 5 million won at 2 months, and 6 million won at 3 months.
Starting in 2025, the government predicted that 200,000 people will use parental leave, of which 120,000 will participate in the joint parental leave system. Under this goal, the government plans to invest 3.6 trillion won over 5 years in parental leave.
In order to mitigate the decline in income after childbirth, the replacement rate of parental leave benefits is also increased. Currently, 80% of normal salary (up to 1.5 million won per month) is paid for 1 to 3 months of leave and 50% (1.2 million won per month) for 4 to 12 months, but the 80% will be applied collectively regardless of the period.
Additionally, a subsidy of 2 million won per month is provided for small and medium-sized businesses with workers taking child care leave for 3 months, and a tax deduction for small and medium-sized businesses that have maintained employment of the returnees from parental leave for more than 1 year (5-10% → 15-30%)) Extend. This reorganization of the system focused on activating the use of parental leave by men. Last year, the total number of parental leave in Korea was 105,165, of which men accounted for 21.2% (22,297). The number of men leaving the country increased significantly compared to 2016 (8.5%), but still falls below 30%.
However, it is noted that there may not be many people who can actually use the parental leave system, considering that the blind spot for employment insurance remains large. Currently, parental leave applies only to employment insurance subscribers, and almost half of all employees are outside the employment insurance system. The government has announced that it will promote ‘nationwide parental leave’ in line with the era of the old national employment insurance, but the system is expected to take a long time to establish.
Choi Hyun-soo, a researcher at the Korean Institute of Health and Social Affairs, said: “The old National Employment Insurance roadmap is working and is experiencing confusion.” “It is possible that only people receive more benefits. It is necessary to separate the parental leave payment from the employment insurance fund and separate it from the government budget.”
Support to households with multiple children is also being expanded. By 2025, when 27,500 households are provided with multi-child rental housing and are in public rental housing, priority will be given when multiple children (two or more children) want to move to a larger balance.
The government is also pushing for a plan to change multiple children, which is the standard for various support measures, from the current three children to two children. For the third and oldest child from low-income households, full college tuition is provided.
[윤지원 기자]When a child is born, 500,000 won a month for one year
Countermeasures for an elderly society with low birth rates
Child benefit introduced from 2022
2 million won bonus for delivery
Third, full support for college tuition.
Starting in 2022, children under the age of 1 will receive the ‘Universal Infant Allowance’. The allowance starts at 300,000 won per month and increases to 500,000 won per month by 2025. In the case of mothers, upon giving birth, they receive a lump sum of 2 million won.
The government held a meeting of the state council on the 15th and confirmed the IV Basic Plan for Low Fertility and Aging (2021-2025). The Basic Plan for Low Fertility and the Aging Society is the basis of the population policy that is established every five years, and is the first announcement of the Moon Jae-in administration.
The key to this low birth rate measure is intensive parental support in childhood. First, the government decided to establish a new child benefit system for ages 0-1 year. In addition to the child allowance (100,000 won per month) currently paid to children under 7, the child allowance is paid to children born in 2022.
The infant allowance replaces the childcare fees and childcare allowances previously paid. In the case of the current system, there was a large gap in support costs depending on whether or not a nursery was used. When using daycare, childcare fees can be provided at a monthly rate of 470,000 won, but many noted that there is a lack of support for child support at home by receiving a parent allowance (200,000 won per month for 0 years and 150,000 won per month for 1 year) when living at home. There is no significant difference in the amount of money currently received by parents who send their 0-1 year old children to daycare.
The government also introduces the ‘first meeting package’ system in 2022, which pays 2 million won as a lump sum for the delivery. The usage limit of the National Happiness Card paid to pregnant women is also raised from 600,000 won to 1 million won. A total of 3 million won in cash support is provided for initial pregnancy and delivery expenses.
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