Samsung Electronics Eases In-House COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Samsung Electronics has relaxed its internal COVID-19 prevention guidelines by lowering the approval criteria for overseas business trips and resuming face-to-face meetings.

This measure comes as the number of employees who have completed COVID-19 vaccinations has increased, and other companies are also expected to ease their strict internal COVID-19 prevention guidelines in line with rising employee vaccination rates.

According to industry sources on the 11th, Samsung Electronics notified its employees of the updated COVID-19 prevention guidelines on the 7th.

The company stated, "Considering the rise in employee vaccination rates after in-house vaccinations and the resulting decrease in confirmed and symptomatic cases within the company, we are changing some prevention measures," adding, "The focus is on overseas entry and exit, business trips, face-to-face meetings, and training."

Previously, overseas business trips were restricted and required approval not only from the business division but also from the Management Support Office. From now on, if the trip is necessary for work, approval can be granted based on the business division's own judgment, lowering the criteria.

For overseas entrants, those exempted from government quarantine can go to work immediately if they test negative on the 1st or 2nd day after entry without a separate quarantine period.

Face-to-face meetings and training sessions, which had been suspended, can now be held under personnel limits (up to 10 people for meetings and 20 for training), and shuttle buses between workplaces have resumed operation with a 50% capacity limit.

Additionally, measures such as workplace closures upon confirmed cases and testing criteria for close contacts have been eased.

However, prevention guidelines such as 30% rotational remote work and restrictions on evening gatherings remain in place.

Samsung Electronics also announced, "We actively considered reopening workplace sports facilities based on employee feedback, but due to concerns about in-house cluster infections, the current status will be maintained for the time being," adding, "We will adjust these measures sequentially in line with the government's implementation of 'gradual daily recovery'."