GBSA Receives Record 249 Companies for 'Gyeonggi Family-Friendly Enterprise' Certification

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Following recruitment for the 'Gyeonggi Family-Friendly Good-to-Work Enterprise Certification Project' (hereinafter 'certification project') conducted jointly by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Province Economic Science and Technology Promotion Agency, a total of 249 companies have applied, comprising 205 new certification applicants and 44 recertification applicants. This represents approximately double the 127 companies that applied last year.

This is interpreted as resulting from Gyeonggi Province's expansion of incentives for family-friendly enterprises and comprehensive publicity efforts, which have spread a family-friendly atmosphere and heightened corporate interest.

The certification project is a policy through which Gyeonggi Province selects and certifies companies that have implemented family-friendly systems such as maternity/paternity leave, reduced working hours during childcare periods, and flexible work arrangements.

The Province recruits and certifies companies and public institutions within the region that exemplarily operate family-friendly systems, providing 57 types of incentives including bonus points when applying for various corporate support projects such as promising SME certification and small and medium business development funds.

This year, the Province increased support funding for newly certified SMEs from 2 million won to 5 million won, and introduced new benefits including special management fund support totaling 20 billion won (2 billion won per company, 2% interest subsidy) and promotion of outstanding enterprises (video production, etc.).

New certifications will be conducted for 50 companies, an increase of 15 from 35 companies last year, targeting 205 new certification applicant companies. The 44 recertification applicant companies will receive certification if they score 65 points or above on a 120-point scale following evaluation.

Evaluation will proceed starting in June, targeting applicant companies. Assessment items include △implementation status of family-friendly systems △CEO interest and commitment to execution △employee satisfaction △corporate stability, among others.

Meanwhile, the Province will promote this year's certification project as one component of 'Love-I Project,' Gyeonggi Province's flagship low birth rate policy. Accordingly, in April, the Province announced through its Population Talk Committee policy measures including raising the weighting of childbirth and childcare sectors, which are certification project evaluation items, from 20 to 30 points, and strengthening incentives provided to Gyeonggi family-friendly enterprises.

Certified enterprises will receive certificates, plaques, and badges bearing the name of the Gyeonggi Province Governor. The 5 million won provided to newly certified SMEs can be used according to the family-friendly needs desired by each enterprise, such as family facility admission fees, in-house welfare points, employee health management, improvement of labor environment, and operation of family-friendly programs.

The certification validity period is three years, from this year through 2027, with the certification ceremony to be held in October.

Kim Mi-sung, Director of the Province's Women and Family Bureau, said, "We express gratitude to the enterprises that have participated in family-friendly enterprise certification. Moving forward, we will focus on substance to enable companies to practically experience changes in family-friendly workplace culture, and through continuous expansion of the certification project, we will strive to increase the number of enterprises that guarantee work-life balance."