While the current Act stipulated that if a pregnant female worker applies for a transition to an easy type of work or shortens working hours, the employer shall allow it, the Act did not prescribe the application and permission of telecommuting or online remote work.

There were, however, opinions that employers should allow pregnant female workers’ telecommuting or online remote work when there is a high risk in health protection for pregnant women workers due to the possibilities of disasters such as the spread of infectious diseases.

Accordingly, this amendment aims to strengthen the protection of pregnant women workers by allowing telecommuting or online remote work if any pregnant female workers apply for telecommuting or online remote work using information and communication networks when a crisis alert above the alert level is issued pursuant to Article 38 of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety (Article 74 (10) through (12) newly inserted).

Allow telecommuting or online remote work if any pregnant female workers apply for telecommuting or online remote work using information and communication networks when a crisis alert above the alert level is issued pursuant to Article 38 of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety (Article 74).