Interior ministry expands leave and career credits for local officials

The interior ministry said Thursday it revised regulations to grant infertility leave to local government employees and expand career credit eligibility for new hires.

Under the amended Local Public Officials Remuneration Regulations, officials undergoing infertility treatment can now take dedicated leave rather than relying on sick leave provisions. The ministry also broadened childcare leave to include parents with children up to age 12 or those in elementary school up to the sixth grade, extending the previous limit of age 8 or second grade.

To encourage recruitment through competitive exams, the revisions allow up to 50 percent of work experience gained before obtaining required professional certificates to count toward seniority-based pay steps. The ministry stated these changes aim to create a childbirth and parenting-friendly work environment and address shortcomings in the current system. Specific details on the career credits will be determined by the interior minister, and the measures apply retroactively to current employees with salary steps recalculated from the enforcement date.

Most provisions take effect on Aug. 1, though the infertility leave salary adjustments will be implemented on Dec. 3.