German chemicals giant Merck has launched a fertility benefit program for all employees working at its Korean unit to help address the nation’s severely low birth rate, the company said Monday.

Earlier this month, the Korean unit became the tenth to join the program, established in October of last year and designed to to help Merck employees having difficulties in conceiving a pregnancy. The scheme was first applied in eight countries, including Germany, the UK, Switzerland, China and Taiwan.

All Merck Korea employees and their partners are eligible for the fertility benefit offer, regardless of gender, marital status or sexual orientation.

Couples can receive financial assistance of up to 15 million won ($11,200) for a range of services, including fertility tests, in vitro fertilization, ovulation induction and male infertility treatments. Preliminary fertility evaluation and some measures to preserve women's fertility, such as freezing eggs, are also covered under Merck’s childbearing support program. There is no limit on the number of attempts for all the treatments, the chemicals giant added.

To help realize the dream of parenthood, Merck also offers additional information on infertility via BeHealthy, a global initiative for the physical, mental and social well-being of employees, as well as psychological counseling services for anyone considering or in progress of infertility treatment.

Pharmaceuticals business division Merck Biopharma has been steering the global infertility treatment market with a complete and clinically proven portfolio, the German firm said. As a fertility expert, Merck has been keeping a close eye on fertility benefits for employees, introducing the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Test -- an ovarian reserve test -- to employee health checkup options since last year.

“Tackling low birth rates requires a change in perception toward pregnancy,” said Christoph Hamann, general manager of Merck Biopharma Korea. “Merck will continue such activities to improve awareness, making sure our employees can receive enough support when having children and giving birth.”