출산수준 제고와 일·가정 양립을 위한 육아지원 내실화 방안(Ⅴ): 산업단지 어린이집 설치 현황 및 개선 방안

Abstract

In recent years, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, has expanded the support for industrial complex and small-medium enterprise consortium-type workplace childcare centers Industrial complex childcare centers are also increased, meanwhile there is the disappointment that the scene is not reflecting the needs and requests of the unionized workers. In this context, this study seeks to identify the workers’ requests for childcare and the current state of nursery management while seeking out points of improvement regarding nursery establishment and management, and proposes methods to improve the substantiality of industrial complex childcare centers, and to help workers to make a balance between work and family. In this study, a literature review, survey research, and in-depth interviews were conducted. The research subjects consisted of 1,000 industrial workers who send their children to industrial complex childcare centers or nearby childcare centers, and 250 directors of industrial complex childcare centers or nearby childcare centers directors. The main findings of this study are as follows. 1) An average of 80% of industrial complex childcare centers met the rate of satisfaction for capacity. 82.0% of childcare centers outside of industrial complexes were established in residential areas, 9.8% at the entrance of industrial complexes, and of those inside industrial complexes 3.5% were near industrial areas. Before the establishment of 15.7% of childcare centers a survey on nursery demand was given to workers, of which 46.6% responded that they were not recruited by the childcare centers but rather fell below capacity. 2) Directors indicated that difficulties running the childcare centers led to ‘kindergarten recruitment’, ‘operating expenses and financial security’, and ‘childcare center staff recruitment’. The biggest reason for the difficulty of childcare centers recruitment and hiring childcare center staff is the location of the childcare centers being far from residential areas. The in-depth interviews showed that difficult accessibility to childcare centers located in the industrial complex, lack of demand, etc. posed as the most difficult challenge to recruitment of infant and toddlers. 4) Directors responded that when installing a new childcare centers, areas where residential areas are adjacent to industrial complexes for ‘national and public childcare centers’ were preferred. In the case of co-working daycares, there was the opinion that responsible large enterprises forming consortiums would be the preferred method of childcare centers establishment in industrial complexes.. 5) In cases of the parent participation of industrial complex workers, differences in male and female were large. Most of the parent participation activities were made up of mothers. For choosing the child’s education and childcare facility, the deciding factors were distance, operation of vehicles, and realistic convenience. 6) There were many cases where industrial workers did not know of the existence of an industrial complex childcare centers, and of 13.9% of established industrial complex childcare centers, most were located near businesses. However most workers replied that the best area for an industrial complex childcare centers to be located would be near complexes close to residential areas rather than inside the industrial complex(48.3%). Opinions regarding the need for industrial complex childcare centers were divided. 7) Parental leave and shortened working hours during infant care for industrial complex workers and experience using parenting support programs supplied by the enterprises had a very low perceived availability to industrial workers. The most helpful industry method was chosen to be flexible working arrangements. This study proposes the following methods of improvement for the substantiality of industrial complex childcare centers. 1) The basic direction of policies should allow for industrial complexes to choose childcare centers that best suit its qualities, and as it is necessary to implement conveniently accessible childcare centers for workers and there is a need for secure operation of childcare centers, provide information and advertisements for industry complex childcare centers. 2) Regarding installment, there is a need to establish childcare centers that reflect the uniqueness of the industrial complex, and to make policies regarding the conditions of location that break down rather than differentiate childcare centers locations. Additionally, there is a need to accurately secure childcare center demand through sophisticated demand surveys geared towards workers, and the workers’ requests should be reflected in the decisions regarding the location and type of establishment of the childcare centers. 3) Regarding operation, there is a need for increased support of operation of industrial complex childcare centers and a need for more variety of support methods for dual-income and single-income households, and there need be installment and operation consulting for industrial complex childcare centers. 4) For the industrial complex workers’ balance between work and family, provision of company-based incentives is necessary order to create a family-friendly culture within the industrial workplace. In addition, the method of activating parent participation of working fathers also needs to be taken into consideration.