영아 양육지원 종합 대책 방안

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the current issues related to government support for individual families with children under three. It analyzed institutional care, in-home care and child care support for working mothers in working sites. It reviewed the related laws, policies, governance infrastructure and investment comprehensively. Further analysis involved identifying the need of the families. Based on these analysis several policy alternatives of support families was provided in accordance with parental needs.

During last five years, investment and care center use rate was increased several times, while parents with children under three are still in difficulties searching centers providing various and high quality services at adequate prices. Relating to institutional child care, this study suggested several policy alternatives for improving child care services for children and their families. Various types of child care center for children under three needs to be maintained, centers providing special services such as occasional care, sick children care, night care, etc. must be enlarged. From the perspectives of efficiency in investment, this study also recommend dual system of subsidy by differentiating working mother and not-working mother. Additionally the management system such as operational committee or financial record system was suggested.

This study also suggested policy measures on in-home child care provided by relatives or dispatched carer from profit or not-profit organizations. Formal and not-profit in-home child system was suggested to be institutionalized. Now, education, delivery and management system of in-home carer are so weak that quality of service provided by them are not sufficiently satisfied the parents who prefer in-home care rather than institutional care for their children under three. Public in-home system is only on pilot stage, while private system is free from quality control. Additionally, this study recommended similar subsidy for in-home care and improvement of tax system for large families and working mothers, so as to alleviate in-home care cost.

From the perspectives of equity, this study suggested parents care subsidy for not-working mothers who take care their children and isolated from government support policies.

In addition, this study suggested to set up new system of providing information and counselling as well as physical space for children and their mothers activating together.

For working mothers, this study suggested several means of supporting to help them continue their carriers in labor markets. To establish working mother support system in working sites, including child care services, child care subsidy, child care and parental leaves, support for companies with high achievement need to be strengthened. Flexibility in using child care leaves are also important. In spite of the revision of related law permitting flexible and selective use of child care leaves available, it seems not easy to use it freely because of social atmosphere and income decrease. This study suggest government and industrial companies to make effort to support family friendly policies continuously.