Protection for pregnant workers

Dismissal or disadvantage because of pregnancy is prohibited.

What is protected during pregnancy

• Restriction on hazardous work — handling harmful substances, heavy lifting. You may request reassignment.
• Restriction on night and holiday work — restricted in principle, with defined exceptions.
• Restriction on overtime
• Time for antenatal check-ups — you may claim time off for appointments.
• Reduced working hours — available in early and late pregnancy under set schemes.
• The right to request lighter duties

Confirm the exact standards and criteria with 1350.

After you notify

1. Inform the company in writing of the pregnancy and due date.
2. Request the specific measures you need — no night work, reassignment, check-up time.
3. Prepare a medical certificate or maternity handbook.
4. If refused, consult or report to 1350.
5. As the birth nears, apply for maternity leave. See maternity-leave.

These are violations

• Dismissal or refusal to renew a contract because of pregnancy
• Pay cuts or demotion because of pregnancy
• Continuing to assign hazardous work
• Denying time for check-ups
• Demanding you leave because "that's what people do when pregnant"

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (maternity protection)
• 1544-3088 KOSHA (hazardous work)
• 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (multilingual)
• 1331 National Human Rights Commission (discrimination)
• Local family centres — see pregnancy-support.

Questions people ask

I daren't say I'm pregnant in case I'm fired. Without telling them you cannot be protected. If disadvantage follows, that itself becomes evidence of a violation. Consult 1350 first.

I'm on a fixed-term contract that is ending. Refusing renewal because of pregnancy can be a violation. Gather records and consult 1350.

I have to stand for very long periods. You can request an adjustment of duties. A medical certificate makes it clearer.

I have no health insurance. Check the pregnancy and childbirth support schemes — 129, your community centre, family centres. See pregnancy-support.

Take care

Hazardous substances and heavy lifting pose a direct risk to the foetus. Notify the pregnancy and request an adjustment at once. If the company refuses, report to 1350 and 1544-3088 together. Keeping records — your request message and their reply — matters.

Related

maternity-leave · parental-leave · pregnancy-support · prenatal-care · workplace-health

Source

Ministry of Employment and Labour www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08