By Kim Se-jeong



Almost 5,000 female employees have been fired every year while on maternity or childcare leave since 2010, data showed Sunday.



According to the data submitted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to Rep. Min Hyun-joo of the ruling Saenuri Party, 26,755 women lost their jobs while on leave for childbirth or childcare between 2010 and June this year.



The related law guarantees 90-day leave for childbirth, and up to one-year leave for childcare. Under the law, it is illegal to fire employees who are on such leave except for very limited cases such as a company closing down.



"This striking number is an example of how poor Korea's corporate culture is in terms of promoting balance between family life and career," Min said. "The government should come up with solutions so that this does not continue to happen."



Some 4,025 mothers were fired in 2010, followed by 4,990 in 2011, 5,665 in 2012, 5,665 in 2013 and 5,193 in 2014. Between January and June this year, 1,226 were fired.



Of them, more than 9,700 were fired due to firms' financial troubles. Some 1,700 lost their job because companies' relocated or changed their working conditions.



About 15,300 were dismissed because of "other reasons," which the companies did not specify.



"This contradicts the government policy to help female workers keep working through various measures for childbirth and childcare," Min said.



Helping workers attain a balance between work and family life has been the top priority for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. This is part of measures to fight the nation's falling birthrate.



More women now return to work after having babies but many settle with one baby because of the poor environment for raising children and maintaining a career at the same time. This also pushes many single women to not marry or postpone tying the knot.



