Choi Kwang-ho, CEO of Hanwha Engineering & Construction, sent a letter of encouragement and support to employees stranded in Iraq for the new coronavirus infection. It was confirmed on March 15 that CEO Choi sent an e-mail letter with his autograph to executives and employees in Iraq for the Bismayah New City Project (BNCP) on March 6, the Hankyung reported exclusively.
In the letter, Choi said, “I deliver my apologies and gratitude to employees while at the same time mapping out a plan. Just as the BNCP camp was established in the wilderness and the serious ISIS crisis have passed wisely, I believe this COVID-19 crisis will also be overcome by our executives and employees."
About 390 employees work at the construction site of Hanwha E&C's new Iraqi town of Bismayah. Tensions have been high as more than 10,000 COVID-19 patients were confirmed in Iran and there were many confirmed cases in Iraq.
Since Iraq has imposed an entry ban on South Korea, Korean employees cannot come out or enter the country. Furthermore, the U.S. bases in Iraq were hit by Iran's retaliatory strikes at the beginning of the year.
Choi also agreed with this, as he has worked in Iraq. "I think the most difficult people are the executives and employees in Iraq who only live in and out of the foreign country," he said. "I feel sorry and sad because I know that regular vacations are the biggest source of life in the field."
Employees who work abroad usually take a vacation every four months. However, the U.S.-Iran air strikes and COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of the year have been overlapping, making it longer for employees to come to Korea. Korean families are also keeping an eye on the situation in Iraq, wishing for the safety of their employees
"As a senior and colleague of the Iraqi scene, I will do my best to find ways to help them. Once again, I want to express my condolences and gratitude to the executives and employees who have suffered a lot from the COVID-19 incident. I will also run to the scene as soon as possible and join you," he added.
