Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service "Get Industrial Accident Compensation for 'Novel Coronavirus' Infections Acquired at the Workplace"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Workers who contract the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) at their workplace will be eligible for industrial accident compensation benefits.

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service announced on the 11th that it has established a work processing plan for industrial compensation claims related to the novel coronavirus. On the same day, a video conference was held connecting affiliated institutions nationwide to review the plan, deciding to promptly provide medical treatment and compensation support if occupational diseases occur due to contact with infected individuals.

According to the Service, if a worker contracts an occupational disease due to contact with a novel coronavirus-infected person while working, they can receive various industrial accident compensation benefits.

Specifically, this applies to ▲ healthcare and group accommodation facility workers who develop the disease through contact with infected individuals during medical treatment or other work processes, ▲ occupations with a high risk of infection such as quarantine officers at airports and ports, and ▲ cases where contact with infected individuals during work is confirmed and there is a significant causal relationship between the work and the disease.

For example, a nurse working at a hospital who is confirmed to have the coronavirus after contact with an infected patient, or an employee who contracts the virus from a colleague at work, can be recognized as having an occupational disease.

However, the specific determination of work-relatedness will be finalized through the deliberation of the Occupational Disease Judgment Committee for each individual case.

Furthermore, if a confirmed patient occurs in a hospital where an industrial accident patient is receiving treatment, the Service will extend the treatment period and pay sick leave benefits even if the patient is isolated due to infection during industrial accident treatment.

In addition, seven Service hospitals designated as national screening clinics will closely cooperate with local health centers to proactively respond to ensure the safety of local residents and prevent the spread of infectious diseases through medical treatment and specimen collection.

Chairman Shim Kyung-woo stated, "We will do our best to ensure that prompt industrial accident compensation and medical treatment support are seamlessly linked," adding, "We will maintain a close cooperative system with local health centers and medical institutions in operating Service hospitals and screening clinics to prevent infectious diseases and curb community spread."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.