Suspension from Office due to Childcare Will Be Included Civil Servant Career

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Civil Service Commission revealed a “Plan for Improvement of Personnel Policy for Female Civil Servants” yesterday aimed at making it easier for women to enter into public service. The main focus of the plan is a new initiative regarding suspension from office duties due to childcare in civil service positions.

Until now, female civil servants who suspended their duties because of childcare responsibilities have been at a disadvantage in terms of personnel evaluation and promotion because the period they took off was not included in their career.

This plan also allows those who work under a contract basis and who are appointed for special purposes to have temporary childcare leave, which has been only available to regular civil servants.

In addition to that, the “Goal of Employment based on Gender Equity,” which obligates at least 30 percent of employment of either gender in public service posts, is to be gradually applied to the clerical staff, who have been excluded from the advantages of this policy so far. Starting next year, female applicants will be placed in 17 to 20 percent of office positions.

On top of that, in order to increase the appointment of women to high-ranking positions in government, starting in 2005 at least one female worker will be appointed above the level of department director through promotion and special hiring of outside figures.

Hyun-Doo Lee ruchi@donga.com