Suwon Expands Support for '10 a.m. Start Time Initiative' for Elementary School Parents at Small-Medium Businesses

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City announced on the 16th that it is expanding the support target for the 'small-medium business elementary school parent 10 a.m. start time initiative incentive' to include parents of elementary students in all grades (grades 1-6).

The city has been providing reduced-hours work incentives since February to small-medium businesses that implement a '10 a.m. start time' for employee parents of 1st graders (elementary newcomers) as a new policy to support small-medium businesses in response to low birth rates.

Ahead of the school vacation, the city expanded support eligibility to benefit more parents.

Eligible businesses are those with fewer than 300 employees located in Suwon that implement a 1-hour shortened work hours system (10 a.m. start time) for employee parents of elementary students in grades 1-6. The city supports up to 600,000 won per employee over 2 months so that employee parents can work shortened hours without any wage reduction. A maximum of 10 cases per business, totaling 100 cases, will be supported.

Applications can be submitted through the Saebittalk-ttalk app or the 'Application Submission' section on the website homepage. Applicants must submit an application form, business registration certificate, and a copy of the employment contract for reduced-hours work employees.

A city official said, "We decided to expand the support target to alleviate the burden on parents raising elementary school students even slightly," and added, "We will actively promote and guide the support to working parents at small-medium businesses."

The official continued, "We will analyze this year's project results and review expanding the scope and scale of support from next year," and said, "We will continuously prepare practical work-life balance support measures to address low birth rates."