[Report] "Anxious and uneasy, but we have to endure"... Convenience stores shaken by COVID-19

Visiting Convenience Stores Selling Self-Test Kits
Government Limits Sales Locations... Convenience Store Workers Face Dilemma
High Sales and Margins but Risk of COVID-19 Infection Looms
Head Office Prepares Support Measures as Store Owners and Part-Timers' Anxiety Grows

On the afternoon of the 22nd, a notice about the sale of self-test kits was posted at Emart24 in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] "These days, many people come to buy self-test kits, but they always feel anxious and uneasy. Convenience stores are the easiest places to go, so some customers come without wearing masks. Normally, bumping into people is the most stressful thing. Since we are not doing this for free but with a margin, we have to endure it." - Kim, franchise owner of Emart24

As convenience stores have started full-scale sales of self-test kits, store owners and part-time workers are trembling with fear of COVID-19 infection. Most people are likely to buy self-test kits when they suspect COVID-19 symptoms, increasing the chances of contact with confirmed cases.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, there were only 5 to 6 self-test kits left on the shelves of a Seven Eleven in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Considering that about 25 kits were stocked the day before, this is a fairly well-selling product. As more people seek self-test kits, concerns about COVID-19 infection among convenience store workers have also increased significantly. Park, who works here, said, "I recently returned to work after taking a break due to concerns about COVID-19 infection," and gave a wry smile, saying, "It's surprising that I haven't caught it so far."

The government limited the sales channels of self-test kits to pharmacies and convenience stores and set the sales price at 6,000 won, putting convenience store headquarters and franchise owners in a dilemma. Although the risk of COVID-19 infection at stores clearly increases, considering the sales volume of self-test kits and the nearly 40% margin, it has become a product they cannot refuse to sell. Also, since all competitors are selling them, it is impossible not to handle the product.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, self-test kits are being sold at a 7-Eleven located in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

Ultimately, paying more attention to personal quarantine measures became the best solution. Jung, a part-time worker at GS25, said, "Originally, the franchise owner did not order self-test kits because of concerns about increased exposure to infection, but since sales have been very high, they started stocking them recently," adding, "I am trying to be as careful as possible by not taking off my mask and frequently using hand sanitizer."

As anxiety among convenience store workers increased, headquarters introduced support measures to soothe them. CU established a wage support system for substitute workers to help franchise owners who have difficulty operating stores due to COVID-19 infection. The wage support covers the amount exceeding this year's minimum wage of 9,160 won, with a salary support limit of about 120% of the minimum wage, or 11,000 won. Starting next month, an emergency staffing dispatch service through the job application ‘Geupgu’ will be provided to quickly hire substitute workers at stores where COVID-19 cases occur. GS25 paid 200,000 won as a daily recovery coexistence support fund to all stores in December last year as disaster relief money due to the COVID-19 situation.

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