The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on September 24 that a work-hour reduction scheme will take effect for pregnant workers at work places with more than 300 regular employees.
Under the new rule, the work hours of the pregnant workers are reduced by two hours per day without reduction in wages, during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and from 36th week to birth.The minimum work hours for these pregnant workers should be six hours a day.
The female workers who meet the requirements should submit the medical certificate of pregnancy to the employer, plus a document that contains information on starting and finishing work hours, three days before the shorter work begins.
The employers who do not allow the shorter work are subject to fines of up to 5 million won. The work places with less than 300 regular workers will be applied with this new rule starting from March 25, 2016.