"I Want to Rest but Can't" Vaccine Leave Remains a Distant Story

Only One Day of Vaccine Leave Combined for 1st and 2nd Doses
Some Companies Allow Just 3 Hours Off on Vaccination Day
"Are You Coming to Work Tomorrow?" Questions Arise
Widespread Complaints Amid Lack of Enforcement

On the 29th, when the government was recently discussing the introduction of a vaccine pass as part of the 'gradual recovery to daily life' plan, a citizen visiting the vaccination center set up at Bukahyeon Cultural and Sports Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, is receiving a vaccination. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Designer Jung Soo-hee (pseudonym, 32), who works at a fashion company in Seoul, had booked her first Moderna vaccine dose but canceled it. This was because the vaccine leave allowed by her company was only one day in total for both the first and second doses. Other colleagues either took annual leave or reluctantly went to work even after vaccination, so no one raised complaints. Jung said, "I postponed the vaccination for now because I don't know when an adverse reaction might occur between the first and second doses," adding, "Seeing colleagues who already got vaccinated at nearby hospitals struggling after coming to work makes me even more scared."

Although the government recommends taking leave to prepare for adverse reactions or side effects after vaccination, for some people, this remains a distant story. Some companies do not have separate regulations regarding vaccine leave or give subtle pressure, causing more employees to delay vaccination, highlighting the need for standardized guidelines.

As of the 18th, when additional reservations began, the reservation rate among the 5.77 million unvaccinated people is only around 6.1% (as of the 30th). Since applications close at 6 p.m. on the 30th, this figure falls far short of the government's expectations. In this situation, voices are emerging that the circumstances of those who want to get vaccinated but cannot due to unavoidable reasons, like Jung, should be taken into account.

Currently, the government only 'recommends' private companies to grant vaccine leave. There is no legal basis such as the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act or the Labor Standards Act, so it is not mandatory. Accordingly, not only special employment and indefinite contract workers but also regular employees find it difficult to properly take vaccine leave due to concerns about their supervisors' reactions.

On the 29th, as the impact of population movement during the Chuseok holiday intensified, a long line of citizens waiting to undergo diagnostic testing formed at the temporary screening site in Seoul Plaza amid a sharp surge in large-scale COVID-19 spread. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight that day, the number of new COVID-19 cases was 2,885, marking the second-largest figure following 3,271 cases on the 25th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Complaints from office workers continue on the anonymous workplace community ‘Blind’. An employee A working at a public enterprise said, "We are allowed to take only three hours off on the day of vaccination," adding, "If you feel sick, you can take sick leave the next day, but employees think they might be disadvantaged during performance evaluations."

Another public enterprise employee B explained, "The principle is to rest only on the vaccination day," and "To take additional leave, you have to report your symptoms in great detail."

C, who works at an insurance company, expressed frustration, saying, "The headquarters announced that employees can take the vaccination day off plus up to two more days, but my supervisor asked, 'Of course, you’re coming in tomorrow, right?'"

Given this situation, some workers who are not properly guaranteed vaccine leave have raised complaints. On the 29th, the Metal Workers' Union LG Care Solution Branch held a press conference in front of the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul, urging LG Electronics to guarantee paid COVID-19 vaccine leave for rental home appliance field inspectors. Participants also delivered about 10,000 customer signatures demanding paid vaccine leave for the field inspectors to the company.