Vulnerable '3M Industries' Receive Support with Partitions and Thermometers (Update)

Expansion of One-Year Call Center Support to All Enclosed, Crowded, and Close-Contact Workplaces

In June, a cluster infection of COVID-19 occurred at the AXA Insurance Jongno Call Center in Jongno, Seoul / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government has decided to provide necessary quarantine supplies such as partitions and thermometers to workplaces prone to COVID-19 cluster infections. Previously, support measures were only targeted at call centers, but now the support will be extended based on whether the workplace is a "3밀 environment"?enclosed, close-contact, and crowded.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a briefing on the 23rd, "We plan to expand the cost support for quarantine supplies to all 3밀 industries," adding, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor will evaluate 3밀 companies and determine whether the facilities or workplaces qualify for support."

Call centers are considered workplaces where social distancing among employees is difficult and where droplets are frequently generated due to the nature of the work, making infection spread easy. Earlier in March, a large-scale cluster infection occurred at a call center in Guro-gu, Seoul, prompting strengthened quarantine measures for vulnerable industries like call centers. However, intermittent cluster infections have continued in vulnerable sectors such as call centers.

The government will also strengthen management plans for other vulnerable workplaces such as logistics centers and employment agencies. First, on-site inspections will be conducted next month targeting call centers and logistics centers. Additionally, support will be provided for metropolitan area vocational training centers recently designated as mandatory quarantine facilities, which were previously considered blind spots in quarantine. Costs for online learning management systems were supported at 525 locations to enable remote group education, and guidelines for remote alternative training were created and distributed.

Considering that COVID-19 cluster outbreaks have occurred around various investment briefings, joint inspections will also be conducted on paid door-to-door sales companies. The Financial Services Commission, Financial Supervisory Service, and local governments will designate areas with a concentration of similar door-to-door sales companies to monitor whether quarantine rules are properly followed during illegal or illicit investment briefings and business presentations. Since these activities are conducted covertly unlike legitimate facilities and institutions, frontline citizens are urged to actively report any violations.

Yoon said, "Investment solicitation companies operate covertly for a short period using high-yield investment financial products as bait, so it is necessary to respond accordingly," adding, "Starting this month, joint inspections will continue in areas with a concentration of similar door-to-door sales companies, such as around Teheran-ro in Gangnam."