South Korea Health Worker Trouble

On Wednesday, South Korean government officials were in last-ditch efforts to stave off a strike by health workers who say they are exhausted from battling waves of COVID-19 outbreaks and need more personnel and better work conditions. The Korean Health and Medical Worker's Union has warned that some of its 80,000 members, including nurses, medical engineers, pharmacists, and administrative hospital staff, would begin striking Thursday if demands are not met. Workers are often working double or triple shifts and need better pay and hours and higher staffing rates. The United States has a recommended nurse to patient ratio of 1:5, and Japan has 1:7, while South Korea has none.