Starting next year, the daily cap on job-seeking allowance (unemployment benefits) will rise to 68,100 won, the first increase in six years. The upper limit for reduced working hours benefits during childcare periods will also be raised to match parental leave benefit levels, allowing recipients to receive up to 2.5 million won per month.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced Wednesday that the Cabinet approved partial amendments to the enforcement decrees of the Employment Insurance Act and the Act on the Collection of Premiums for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance.
Under the revision, the daily cap on unemployment benefits will increase from 66,000 won to 68,100 won. The upper limit on daily wages used to calculate unemployment benefits will also be adjusted from 110,000 won to 113,500 won.
As next year's minimum wage rises to 10,320 won per hour, the daily floor for unemployment benefits, which is linked to the minimum wage, will increase to 66,048 won. As a result, the minimum monthly unemployment benefit payment (based on 8 hours per day for 30 days) will rise from 1,925,760 won to 1,981,440 won, while the monthly cap will increase from 1.98 million won to 2,043,000 won.
Support for parental leave programs will also expand. Currently, subsidies for replacement workers cover the two months before parental leave begins and the entire parental leave period. Starting next year, the government will provide an additional month of support after the employee returns to work.
The payment method will also change. Currently, 50% of the subsidy is paid during the replacement worker's employment period and the remaining 50% is paid one month after parental leave ends. Under the new system, the full amount will be paid during the replacement worker's employment period.
For calculating reduced working hours benefits during childcare periods, the upper limit of the base amount will be raised to 2.5 million won for the first 10 hours per week, and 1.6 million won for additional reduced working hours.