<p>This study aimed to explore the role of work engagement in mediating the effect of motivation on occupational commitment for teachers of SMK 1 Banda Aceh, SMK 2 Banda Aceh and SMK 3 Banda Aceh, during covid-19 pandemic. This study was conducted in June, July, and August 2020, in the time of covid-19 happened. From a total of 203 teachers, as many as 132 teachers were selected as respondents. The simple random sampling technique was used. The data tested using path analysis and Sobel test. This study found motivation had a significant positive effect on occupational commitment; motivation had a significant positive effect on work engagement; work engagement had a significant positive effect on occupational commitment ; and, work engagement was also found to be significant when mediated the effect of motivation on occupational commitment. The work engagement variable in the research model served as a partial mediating variable. The results also implies in increasing occupational commitment can be done either directly through increased motivation or indirectly through increased work engagement. These findings are unique to the testing conditions where testing was carried out during the covid-19 pandemic which is a virus that is endemic throughout the world. For academics, the findings can contribute to theory development, which can be compared between the previous theory and the results of the current theory of causality during the Covid-19 pandemic. Motivation can still predict work engagement and occupational commitment, especially for teachers who are working amid the covid-19 virus outbreak.</p>