"'Can't Rest Even When Sick' Coupang Part-Timers Criticize 'Rest When Sick' Policy, Office Workers Sigh"

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Reports 69 Confirmed Cases at Bucheon Coupang Logistics Center as of 28th
Criticism Over Non-Compliance with Workplace Quarantine Rule 'Stay Home When Sick'
Office Workers Find It Difficult to Practice 'Rest at Home for 3-4 Days When Sick'

Park Neung-hoo, 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Dozens of confirmed cases of COVID-19 have occurred at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, and the quarantine authorities stated that workplace quarantine rules such as "stay home if you are sick" do not seem to have been properly followed, drawing criticism. Considering the logistics center industry, there is criticism that this is an unrealistic form of desk administration.

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) for COVID-19 and Minister of Health and Welfare, said before the meeting on the 28th, "In the metropolitan area, infection routes are diversifying through workplaces, academies, karaoke rooms, pubs, etc.," and "69 confirmed cases have been reported related to the Bucheon logistics center as of today."

Deputy Head Park said, "Due to the nature of logistics centers, where intensive labor is performed in a short time, it appears that workplace quarantine rules such as wearing masks at work or 'stay home if you are sick' were not properly followed."

The problem lies in the fact that many workers cannot properly implement workplace quarantine rules like "stay home if you are sick."

In an online survey conducted by the CDSCH from the 12th to the 26th of last month targeting 8,447 people, 54% responded that among the five basic rules, "staying home for 3-4 days when sick" was the most difficult to practice.

Some respondents also suggested introducing "sickness benefits," which compensate for lost income or cash allowances during treatment for illness or injury for those enrolled in health insurance. This is why the "stay home if you are sick" rule is considered ineffective.

Another survey showed that 73% of workers did not use all their annual leave.

According to a survey by the employment portal JobKorea on December 3 last year targeting 1,451 workers about their annual leave usage this year, only 27% answered that they had used all their leave.

Among workers who did not use all their annual leave (1,065 people), 61% said they would not be able to use the remaining leave either. By position, the usage rate of annual leave among staff, assistant managers, and deputy managers was similar, while only 22% of managers and above used all their leave, which is lower than the average.

The reasons for not using annual leave also differed by position. Staff and deputy managers mostly answered "feeling pressured by supervisors and colleagues" (41% and 37%), while managers and above mostly answered "too much work" (37%).

On the afternoon of the 27th, when a group of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection occurred at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, a notice informing the suspension of operations was posted on the fence of the Coupang Bucheon logistics center in Ojeong-dong, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Among these, considering the logistics center industry, citizens responded that even fewer workers can actually implement the "stay home if you are sick" rule.

It is pointed out that this occupation mostly involves short-term contract or part-time employment, so taking time off inevitably involves feeling pressured.

In fact, one confirmed COVID-19 patient was found to have worked part-time at the Coupang Bucheon logistics center over the weekend of the 23rd-24th.

A 30-year-old office worker, Mr. A, said, "I want to ask how many office workers can actually take time off immediately when they are sick," and added, "I hope more realistic quarantine measures are introduced." He also questioned, "I am curious whether the minister really thinks office workers can take time off when sick."

Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. B, said, "I understand that the logistics center industry mostly employs short-term part-time workers," and added, "Taking time off when sick means not getting paid for that day's work."

Coupang delivery worker. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Experts recommended active compliance with quarantine rules by companies. Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said in an interview with Asia Economy, "The cluster infection at the Coupang logistics center may be related to the company's attitude," and pointed out, "It is difficult to wear masks and follow quarantine rules in a tough working environment."

He continued, "Rules such as staying home for 3-4 days when sick were not followed. By not improving the environment, they indirectly contributed to the spread. They managed employees from an efficiency perspective, but this makes them vulnerable to epidemics and infectious diseases. I think this needs to change."

He also pointed out, "There is great responsibility on the part of management for not improving the working environment despite the COVID-19 situation."

Meanwhile, according to the CDSCH, as of midnight on this day, 69 COVID-19 patients related to the Coupang logistics center were confirmed. This figure comes from testing 3,445 out of 4,159 people who were selected for testing by the 27th.

There are still about 1,200 people who have not been tested or are awaiting results, so additional confirmed cases are expected. On the morning of this day, eight more cases among employees and family members of the center were reported in Incheon, Gwangmyeong, and Gimpo.

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