People are more important than the economy: Companies in Korea gave their employees vacations due to the heat
Korea recorded its hottest temperature since 1904, 42.5 degrees Celsius. The president called it a national disaster. Large companies gave their employees up to 10 days of paid leave, and even sent them abroad for vacation at the company's expense. In Korea, vacation is not seen as an economic loss, but as part of labor rights and an investment in the future, says Seoul-based researcher Daniyor Boboyev, who spoke to Kun.uz.
Human health takes precedence over economic interests: Companies in Korea give employees vacations due to heat.
The highest temperature recorded in the Republic of Korea since 1904 was 42.5 degrees Celsius. President Lee Jae-myung called the situation a national disaster. Large companies, however, gave their employees up to 10 days of paid vacation and even sent them abroad for vacation at the company's expense. According to Seoul-based researcher Daniyor Boboyev, in Korea vacations are not considered an economic loss, but rather part of labor rights and an investment in the future.
Today, the Republic of Korea, like many other countries, is experiencing an extremely hot summer. The highest temperature recorded in the country since 1904 was 42.5 degrees Celsius. President Lee Jae-myung called the situation a national disaster. Although the government does not provide mass holidays for employees, it is actively involved in creating the necessary working conditions for them and taking measures to protect the population from the heat.
In an interview with Kun.uz, Daniyor Boboyev, a researcher at Joongbu International University and an employee of a Korean company, noted that the air temperature is hotter than usual. Especially since the country is located on the ocean, high humidity makes the hot weather very uncomfortable to live in.
Despite this, the Korean government and local authorities are taking all possible measures for the population. In particular, cooling devices are installed at bus stops, cooling rooms on the streets, free cold drinks and umbrellas are provided inside the bus and in designated areas. Even large Korean companies are providing their employees with paid labor leave from 3 to 10 days.
According to Daniyor Boboyev, employees of all large companies are currently on vacation, and some have even gone abroad to rest. The Korean people are very hardworking, and this hard work has led to the country's economic miracle. However, despite their hard work, they are very strict about their labor rights. For example, in Korea, vacations are now considered not an economic loss, but an investment in the future performance and efficiency of employees.
In addition, vacations apply not only to Korean citizens, but also to all employees of the same company, regardless of nationality, race, or gender. Because labor protection legislation in Korea applies equally to everyone.
Although the cold snap has ended in Uzbekistan, temperatures are expected to rise again this weekend. The republic's legislation does not contain a norm for granting mass vacations in adverse weather conditions, but it is mandatory to take all measures to ensure the health and safety of employees. Also, there was no information about organizations and companies that granted vacations to their employees due to the anomalous heat last month.