People wait in a long line to receive coronavirus tests at a makeshift COVID-19 testing facility in Seoul on March 19, 2022. The country reported 381,454 new infections on the day. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 29 (Korea Bizwire) — As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to climb, some firms are forcing unpaid leave and wage cuts on employees, a pro-labor civic group said.
Gabjil 119 received 19 reports between January and March 20 involving unjust treatment at workplaces in dealing with the pandemic.
The civic group has also received some 110 reports through KakaoTalk mobile messenger involving similar abuse.
Starting on March 16, the payout given to employees on COVID-19 paid leave has shrunk from a maximum of 73,000 won (US$59.84) per day to 45,000 won per day. The number of days paid also shrank from seven days to five days.
The paid leave itself has been no more than a recommendation by authorities.
Employees have increasingly been forced to sign up for unpaid leave or use their annual vacation for the duration of their quarantine. The livelihood subsidies available for workers have also been cut by more than 50 percent.
“COVID-19 paid leave is ensured only for employees at public agencies and large conglomerates. For small and medium-sized businesses, employees are being asked to go on unpaid leave or use their annual vacation,” Gabjil 119 said.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
