The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 7th that it has increased the budget for maternity benefits, which are provided to women not covered by employment insurance, to 12.8 billion won, resulting in a total of 34.6 billion won.
This supplementary budget was set in motion due to the rapid increase in the number of maternity benefit applicants this year, leading to the anticipated early depletion of the existing budget. Initially, the plan was to support 11,784 people, but as of the end of June, support had already been provided to 10,420 people (88.4%).
The maternity benefits for individuals not covered by employment insurance target freelance workers, sole proprietors, special-type workers, and those exempt from the Employment Insurance Act. It provides a total of 1.5 million won for women who cannot receive maternity leave benefits.
The additional budget allows for 8,515 more people to be supported. The Ministry of Employment and Labor expects to provide maternity benefits to a total of 20,000 people this year.
Jinho Kwon, Director of the Integrated Employment Policy Bureau, stated, “We will be able to provide the required benefits when needed without the early depletion of funds,” and added, “We will support people’s livelihoods through the reinforcement of the maternity protection system.”