The MOEL Guidance urges employers to do the following, in order to ensure the safety of workers.

1.    Monitor developments of outbreaks among workers (including subcontracted, dispatched and contract workers)

• If any patients or suspected patients are found, promptly take appropriate action to isolate the individuals in question (more details in item 5 below).

  
2.    Prepare a business continuity plan 

• Designate a person/team dedicated to business continuity planning and implementation. 
• Business continuity plan should cover business partners, manpower dispatch companies and service providers.  

3.    Strengthen hygiene within the workplace

• Strengthen hygiene control of individual employees (e.g., prepare hygiene products such as soap, hand sanitizers and tissues in common areas).
• Disseminate and distribute personal prevention guidelines to employees and customers (visitors).
• Regularly clean and disinfect office space and relevant facilities. 

4.    Take preventive measures against infection in the workplace

• Recommend employees with fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing and/or sore throat) to wear masks and seek treatment at their nearest clinics/hospitals.
• Strengthen pre- and post-travel management of employees returning from overseas travel or business trips.
   
  • Provide employees information regarding personal hygiene and necessary precautions when visiting crowded locations/abroad and returning from overseas. 
  • Recommend employees who have returned from China (including Hong Kong and Macau) within the last 14 days to refrain from contacting others or engaging in public activities for 14 days after arrival in Korea, and arrange for the employees to use vacation days or work from home to the extent possible. 

5.    If a confirmed patient, suspected patient or patient under investigation (PUI) is found in the workplace:

• Immediately instruct the employee to wear a mask and move the employee to a quarantine area.
• Immediately notify the local Public Health Center or the KCDC Call Center (1339).
• Inform the situation to all employees including dispatched workers.
• Control personal hygiene of all employees in the workplace (e.g., instruct workers to wear masks). 
• Direct employees who have come into contact with a confirmed/suspected patient to remain in a quarantine area until public health authorities arrive.
• Comply with the health authorities’ instructions including (i) epidemiological investigations, (ii) fumigations or disinfections of the workplace, (iii) tests for COVID-19, and (iv) other follow-up measures (e.g., hospitalization, self-quarantine).

6.    Use flexible work arrangements; Ensure appropriate compensation is paid

• If an employee has been hospitalized and quarantined by the health authorities in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention Act, the company must grant paid leave to the employee in case it receives an employee subsidy from the Korean government. 
• If a company temporarily suspends an employee from coming to work based on its own discretion, it must pay the employee a business suspension allowance. 
• It is recommended for companies to use flexible work arrangements (e.g., staggered working hours, work from home) in order to prevent the spread of infection.