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2025-10-01Work

🍼 Flexible Work for Parents Now Mandatory (2+ of 5 Options)

Effective October 1, 2025 — For employees with children aged 3 to pre-school

5
Options
2+
Required
3–6
Age range
All
Foreigners too

What's changing?

Under the revised Childcare and Family Care Leave Act, employers must provide workers with children aged 3 to pre-school "2 or more of 5 flexible work options." Foreign employees are equally covered.

📋 5 options

🏠Telework (remote work from home)
Flexible start times (staggered hours / flextime)
⏱️Shortened working hours (part-time arrangement)
👶Additional leave (10+ days per year)
🏢On-site childcare facility, etc.

👥 Who's affected?

  • All workers with children aged 3 to pre-school
  • Full-time, part-time, dispatched, and foreign employees
  • Regardless of gender
  • All employers regardless of company size

🏢 Employer obligations

Employers must implement at least 2 of the 5 measures and allow workers to choose. Employees can individually request their preferred measure.

🔄 Difference from existing rules

  • Under 3: 6-hour short-time work mandatory (unchanged)
  • 3 to pre-school: New 2-of-5 requirement
  • After school entry: effort-based obligation only (unchanged)

💡 Key points to know

1Part-time and foreign workers are equally eligible
2You have the right to request 2+ measures from your company
3Adverse treatment (demotion, dismissal) is prohibited by law
4Verbal requests OK but written recommended

🔗 Related Issues

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