The Coronavirus and NETs

While Japan tries to find ways to contain the spread of COVID-19,  Osaka is discouraging its Native English Teachers from taking sick leave.  

How are they doing that?  By eliminating paid sick leave, NETs who have a fever or fall ill will have to take unpaid leave while they recover, which can mean losing a week’s wages as a result.

Many NETs already work additional jobs just to support themselves and their family, so if they had the choice to either take time off to recover without a week’s pay or go into work and suffer through any illness just so they don’t lose money, which do you think some may feel compelled to take?

Since no-one ever plans to get sick, for the safety of their coworkers and hundreds of students they teach, Osaka Board of Education needs to follow Abe’s advice and create an environment that allows NETs to take the necessary time-off, without any cause for financial worry, in order to prevent the spread of all illnesses. Taking away NETs’ paid sick leave after almost 30 years of its implementation, at a time it’s probably needed the most, is in fact doing the opposite.