Bill would increase time off for new dads

In an effort to boost the country’s low birthrate, the ruling party and the government are considering a plan to allow fathers to take two weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child, an increase from the current three days of unpaid paternity leave.

“We are pushing for it as one of the ways to boost the low birthrate,” said a member of the ruling Grand National Party’s policymaking committee. “A two-week paid leave was seen as the most appropriate period and we are discussing the measure with the Ministry of Employment and Labor.”

He said the ministry was concerned about resistance from private companies, but the government and ruling party will soon complete discussions with the Labor Ministry.

“After the final decision, the policymaking committee will announce the plan,” he said.

The plan indicates that the government and the ruling party will go a step further than a plan drafted last month. That plan would have changed the current three-day unpaid paternity leave to three days of paid leave. Under the plan, new fathers would have been allowed a total of five days of leave - three days of paid leave and two unpaid days off.

By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]