On May 12, the NHRCK recommended the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to legislate sick leave system and to introduce a public sickness allowance system for all working people.576) In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare responded that they agreed with the purpose of the NHRCK’s recommendation, but emphasized the need for social discussion on preparing a specific system or would follow the results of the sickness allowance pilot project. B) Discussions on Legalization of the Sickness System and Introduction of the Sickness Allowance The prolonged COVID-19 has revealed that there is a significant gap in the guarantee of the right to rest when sick in Korean society. Moreover, during the COVID-19 epidemic, people began to realize the need to establish a universal and sustainable social safety net that supports people who have injuries and illnesses unrelated to work to fully rest and recover without worrying about job security or income loss. However, discussions are under way regarding the legalization of sickness leave and leave of absence, and how to design the sickness allowance. First is a debate related to the stipulation of the right to take vacation and leave for non-work related injuries. The purpose is to reduce the difference in the level of rights guaranteed by workplace and to provide a work environment where a person can rest when sick through the Labor Standards Act, etc. However, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the business groups consider personal injuries and illnesses that are unrelated to work as problems outside the management scope of companies, unlike work-related accidents. Therefore, in principle, the issue should be dealt with by individual workers or by the state, and because the number of holidays and vacation days for workers has increased in recent years, measures to demand additional burden from companies are difficult accept, as a rule.577) 576) NHRCK, Decided on May 12, 2022, Recommendations and Opinions to Ensure Workers’ ‘Right to Rest if Sick’ 577) NHRCK, Press Release, Oct. 25, 2022. 232