The current Act requires employers to grant pregnant women a 90-day maternity leave before and after childbirth. However, the reality is that in a considerable number of businesses including middle-standing and small to medium enterprises, it is difficult for employees to take their legally mandated maternity leave for fear of adverse action by their employers.

Accordingly, the Amendment prescribes that the Minister of Employment and Labor shall issue employers a notice requiring them to grant maternity leave to pregnant women; requires employers to publicly announce the percentage of maternity leave used in the business or workplace concerned each year; and allows the Minister of Employment and Labor to provide financial assistance to enterprises where at least a certain percentage of maternity leave has been used; thereby aiming to encourage the use of maternity leave (Article 74-3 newly inserted).

Require any business owner whose number of employees are equal to or exceed the number specified by the Presidential Decree to publicly announce the percentage of maternity leave used in the business or workplace concerned each year (Article 74-3)