The small and midsize business community asked the government to expand SME-tailored work-family balance support systems and strengthen tax incentives to address low birthrates.
Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises held a courtesy meeting on the 13th at its Yeouido, Seoul, headquarters with newly appointed Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy Vice Chair Kim Jin-o to discuss pending issues on responding to low birthrates and support measures for small and midsize businesses.
Kim Ki-moon, chair of Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, said, "Small and midsize businesses face practical difficulties due to tight staffing structures, such as heavier workloads for colleagues and challenges in hiring replacement workers," adding, "Support tailored to on-site conditions and measures that can be felt in practice, such as tax and fiscal incentives, are needed."
Kim continued, "The total fertility rate rose to 0.8 last year, and the number of births also recorded the largest increase in 15 years, showing a positive trend," adding, "It is important to continue this hard-won rebound." He also said, "I expect Vice Chair Kim Jin-o to faithfully fulfill the role of the overarching control tower in responding to Korea's population crisis."
In response, Vice Chair Kim Jin-o said, "For addressing low birthrates, on-the-ground efforts centered on corporations are most important," adding, "A family-friendly culture must take root on the ground so that SME workers can use work-family balance systems without burden."
Vice Chair Kim also said, "We will continue communicating so that the SME sector is not left out of work-family balance systems due to labor shortages and expense burdens," adding, "We will strengthen effective support measures in cooperation with relevant ministries, local governments, and the private sector."