When the temporary closure of child care centers, kindergartens, and schools is determined due to the outbreak of the Novel Corona virus, or even when parents want to protect their children in their homes not going to school, dual-income households have trouble in caring their children. Though the short-term family care leave system is now introduced, it is limited to a maximum of 10 days. Therefore, the flexible operation of the leave period is necessary, considering the incubation period and quarantine period of the Novel Corona virus is 14 days. 

Accordingly, the amendment stipulates that if a worker’s minor child has an infectious disease, if the child care center is closed for reasons of preventing an infectious disease, or if special case of attendance is approved despite children’s absence, the employer shall allow the worker having short-term infectious disease care leave during the period of quarantine or temporary closure of the child care center at the request of the worker. In this case, the Minister of Employment and Labor shall provide the employer with the necessary support (Article 22-5 newly inserted).

- Impose penalties on an employer for unfavorable treatment, such as dismissing a worker or worsening working conditions, for reasons of short-term infectious disease care leave (Article 22-5 (3) and Article 37)

- Impose an administrative fine on an employer if he/she does not allow short-term infectious disease care leave or does not allow paid short-term infectious disease care leave after receiving an application for short-term infectious disease care leave from a worker (Article 22-5 (1) and Article 39)