Gov't criticized for plan to promote workers with multiple children

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A heated debate is brewing over the government’s recent decision to grant additional points for promotions to civil servants with two or more children.

The decision was made as part of efforts to join the country’s campaign to tackle the record-low birthrate and aging population, according to the Ministry of Personnel Management, Monday. But critics claimed that such a policy could cause discrimination against single civil servants or those with only one child as well as those having difficulty conceiving children, during promotion procedures that should always prioritize competence.

On Oct. 16, the ministry made a pre-announcement of the legislation to revise the decree on the appointment of public officials, noting that the revision includes granting additional points for promotions to grade 8 and 9 civil servants with two or more children.

This means, when grade 9 civil servants are promoted to grade 8, and when grade 8 civil servants are promoted to grade 7, those with two or more children will have an advantage.

In cases where the overall scores are the same for more than two candidates for promotions, ones with multiple children could have priority over others.

The ministry noted that details such as the definition of multiple children and how many additional points will be granted will be decided by the ministers of each ministry, considering that each one has differing characteristics in terms of human resources.

“We are working to implement the revision in January,” a ministry official said.

Since the pre-announcement of the legislation was made, a number of negative opinions have been posted in online communities including Blind, the anonymous workplace community app for verified employees.

One civil servant wrote on Blind, “When colleagues take maternity leave or child care leave, it is mostly singles that are forced to take over their duties. Then, the singles will be passed over for promotions under the revision. I think it is not fair.”

Another wrote, “The policy can work against singles and those with no children as well as those with an only child and those having difficulty conceiving children even if they desperately want to have children.”

Some claimed that the revision seems reminiscent of the now-defunct policy that gave additional points in civil service recruitment to men who completed their military service.

That old policy disappeared following the Constitutional Court’s 1999 landmark decision that said such an advantage was unconstitutional and discriminative against women and the disabled who are not subject to conscription. At the time, all nine Constitutional Court judges declared it unconstitutional.

Regarding the ongoing controversy, the ministry official stressed that the principle that promotions should be based on competence would remain in place.

“The revision is aimed at showing the public sector’s will to take the lead in addressing the serious low birthrate faced by the country,” the official said. “We are currently listening to various opinions regarding the revision.”

The official noted the revision could be subject to reconsideration if public opinion remains negative, but added that “there is no such plan for now and the ministry is aiming to implement it in January.”