Drivers in Seoul and other cities on the mainland can have paid leave for vaccination against COVID-19.
Voices are growing that paid leave should be given to local bus drivers for the safety of passengers as well as drivers.
Joseph Kim reports.

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Bus drivers are next in line for a vaccine against COVID-19.
But with the vaccination day approaching, bus drivers are not very happy about their turn to be vaccinated.


In case of side effects after getting the vaccine, it would be safer for them to get a shot while they are off duty. But they cannot choose their vaccination day.



Most of them will have to be behind the wheel the day after their vaccination, or take a leave from their granted annual leave.

Whenever vaccine side effects are reported, they feel uneasy.


Voices are growing in Jeju that paid leave for vaccination should be given to local bus drivers.
Currently, drivers in Seoul, (경기) Gyeonggi, (부산) Busan and some other cities on the mainland can use paid leave for the vaccination.


The Jeju office for Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) argues that drivers need paid vaccination leave for the safety of passengers as well as drivers.


Local transportation authorities are now reviewing the introduction of paid vaccination leave.

Leave policy in the public transportation sector needs to be adjusted in the era of the pandemic for bus drivers to properly and safely perform their job.

Joseph Kim, KCTV