Maternity leave will rise to 90 days

Starting next year, full-time workers who attend graduate schools will be able to receive full income-tax deductions for their tuition. Also, the current maternity leave of 60 days will be increased to 90 days, starting some time in the second half of next year.

The government held an economic vice-ministerial meeting Wednesday and announced this "affirmative policy for the middle and lower class," which included these changes.

The proposed measure also allows "temporary leave of office to nurse a family member," as well as for "rearing young children at home." In addition, in consideration of the low 11.4% of the unemployed who actually receive the unemployment monthly allowances and benefits, the government has proposed to consider allowing day laborers to receive unemployment compensation.

In order to assist the long-term unemployed back into the work force, an employment promotion subsidy could be available to those unemployed for more than six months, rather than the current one year. For the unemployed, the current allowance of 45,000 won would be increased in stages, and the list of handicapped eligible for the allowance expanded.

Starting in January, the government also will abolish the automobile license fee and implement scaled automobile registration fees with owners of older model cars paying less.

shkwon@donga.com