Samsung Electronics to Provide Round-Trip Family Airfare Support
Excluding Expatriates
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] As COVID-19 spreads rapidly in India, LG Electronics has joined Samsung Electronics in recommending the temporary return of expatriate families.
On the 23rd, according to industry sources and the Korean community in India, LG Electronics India announced internally that it would provide round-trip airfare and other support to expatriate families wishing to return temporarily. There are about 50 LG Electronics expatriates in India, with approximately 150 family members. Expatriates themselves are excluded from this support.
Currently, there are no regular flights operating between Korea and India. Expatriate families wishing to return to Korea are expected to use charter flights that operate irregularly.
Previously, Samsung Electronics India also decided to support round-trip airfare for expatriate families' temporary return. Several small and medium-sized enterprises have also agreed to support expatriate family return expenses, and one company has decided to temporarily bring back a local office staff member who was operating as a one-person branch.
The companies' decisions are due to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 outbreak in India. Just two months ago, the daily new confirmed cases were around 10,000, but recently, for two consecutive days, the number has exceeded 300,000, setting a new world record. In particular, the Korean community is reportedly concerned about the collapse of India's medical infrastructure. Recently, major hospitals in India are facing severe shortages of beds and medical oxygen due to the surge in confirmed cases.
So far, the cumulative number of confirmed cases reported to the Korean Embassy in India is about 90, but the actual number of infected people is believed to be higher. The Korean community in India numbers approximately 11,000.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
