1. Reasons for Amendment

The current Act allows work hours to be reduced during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the risk of miscarriage is highest, and after 36 weeks due to a high risk of premature birth. However, of the 11,796 infants born prematurely at up to 35 weeks of gestation, 80.9% (9,543) were concentrated between 32 and 35 weeks of gestation. Therefore, in order to protect pregnant women and their unborn children from the risk of premature birth, it is necessary to increase the period of reduced work hours during pregnancy from the current “pregnant for not more than 12 weeks or for not less than 36 weeks” to “pregnant for not more than 12 weeks or not less than 32 weeks.”

2. Major Provisions

Increase the period during which pregnant female employees may request a reduction in work hours from not more than 12 weeks or not less than 36 weeks of gestation to not more than 12 weeks or not less than 32 weeks of gestation (Article 74 (7))