Gov't to strength state-run babysitting service
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Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hae speaks during the ministers' meeting at the government complex in Sejong, Friday. / Yonhap
By Kim Jae-heun
The government said, Friday, it will enhance its state-run childcare system by mandating personality and aptitude tests for would-be babysitters.
The plan came after a 58-year-old woman hired by the state as a babysistter was arrested recently for abusing a 14-month-old baby. The parents found out through surveillance recordings made by a nanny cam they had installed at their home.
“I feel a heavy burden about it and the government will make sure no such incident happens again,” Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hae said during the ministers' meeting at the government complex in Sejong. “We will work to improve the childcare system so that parents can fully trust and leave their child with us.”
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it will adopt personality and aptitude tests starting next month when recruiting for its babysitting service. Psychologists and experts in preventing child abuse will join the interviews to examine candidates before hiring them.
The ministry agreed to suspend for two years ― up from the current six months ― those abusing a child. It also plans to revise relevant laws to revoke babysitters of their licenses for at least five years when prosecuted.
“There has been a previous court ruling that firing a babysitter for her reported child abuse is an excessive infringement on fundamental rights. However, we will reveal the babysitter's career to notify parents about babysitters' suspensions or cancellation of past jobs. This method will naturally filter out those with history,” said Kim Hee-kyung, vice minister of gender equality and family.
About installing surveillance cameras at homes, the ministry said it cannot force all babysitters to work under observation as it invades their privacy, though the option is permitted if a babysitter agrees to work under such conditions.
Parents can evaluate the childcare service online and the data will be shared on mobile phone applications for others to refer.
Meanwhile, the ministry will extend child abuse preventive education to six hours from three.
Minister Yoo also revealed her plan to put together government bodies to cooperate on solving social issues when they break out.
Statistics Korea will conduct regular research on social changes and policies adopted and gauge their effectiveness. The index itself will also be updated to the latest trends.
“We will not stop at only measuring the people's quality of life with collected data but also utilize it to improve related policies,” Yoo said.
Measurements to improve quality of the National Competency Standard (NCS) will take place as well.
Yoo will modify related legislation to reflect the opinions from industrial sites and demands of the labor market.
Individual projects to encourage promising sectors such as internet of things (IoT) and big data, in particular, will be established.