The current Act stipulates that, where an employee applies for childcare leave or reduced working hours to rear his or her children aged eight years or younger or in the second grade or lower of elementary school for a period of childcare, his or her employer is required to grant such request. 

However, some point out that it is difficult to guarantee a work-family balance of employees with the childcare leave or reduced working hours during the period of childcare alone, as the childcare leave may interrupt with the career of the employee and, where the reduced working hours during the period of childcare are used, the employee has to endure a decrease in earned income. 

Therefore, where an employee applies for childcare leave or reduced working hours to rear his or her children aged eight years or younger or in the second grade or lower of elementary school, the Amendment aims to allow him or her to work at home or anywhere without prescribed working locations with information and communications technology devices so as to ensure greater work-family balance of employees (Article 19-5 newly established). 

Where an employee applies for childcare leave or reduced working hours to rear his or her children aged eight years or younger or in the second grade or lower of elementary school, allow him or her to work at home or anywhere without prescribed working locations with information and communications technology devices so as to ensure greater work-family balance of employees (Article 19-5 newly established).