Delivery Workers' Consecutive Deaths from Overwork... President Moon Orders Special Measures

Democratic Party-People Power Party Political Conflict
Delivery Company CEO's Audit Testimony 'Failed'
Environment and Labor Committee to Hold Public Hearing and Discuss Improvement Measures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Im Chun-han] On the 20th, President Moon Jae-in, during a Cabinet meeting, addressed the issue of the "novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)" and stated, "The lives of workers in blind spots, such as special employment workers, are being pushed further to the brink. The problem of delivery workers dying from overwork is a typical example," urging the government to take special measures.

President Moon said, "Inequality caused by COVID-19 continues to threaten the lives of the people in various fields. A representative example is the new inequality structure in the labor market."

He added, "The government is making efforts such as expanding employment insurance coverage, but it is still insufficient. Institutional protection beyond temporary support is necessary," and stated, "I hope that the inspection of poor working conditions for laborers and labor supervision will be further strengthened and sustainable measures will be prepared."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, although 10 delivery workers have already died from overwork this year, the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's (Environment and Labor Committee) decision to summon CEOs of CJ Logistics, Hanjin Delivery, and Coupang for a state audit ultimately failed. When the ruling party demanded to call the delivery company CEOs, the opposition party countered by insisting that Choi Jong-gu, CEO of Eastar Jet, and Lee Sang-jik, an independent lawmaker, should also appear. Instead, the Environment and Labor Committee decided to hold a public hearing after the state audit to discuss legal and institutional improvements to address delivery workers' issues.

Im Eui-ja, the People Power Party's secretary of the Environment and Labor Committee, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 20th, "The issue of essential workers such as delivery workers cannot be handled lightly. I think a large-scale public hearing should be held after the state audit," adding, "The standing committee will legislate and amend laws as necessary." The Democratic Party also expressed the position that after the state audit, a task force related to delivery workers should listen to the views of management and the government and proceed with practical institutional improvements.

Although both ruling and opposition parties agreed on the need to find solutions to delivery workers' deaths from overwork, they clashed over witness summons amid ongoing issues such as the Eastar Jet and Incheon International Airport Corporation incidents. Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young pointed out, "CJ Logistics and Hanjin Delivery force sorting work as unpaid labor. However, only these parties are continuously excluded from the witness list," while Im responded, "I agree with the Democratic Party's call for a world that respects labor. Are we going to leave Eastar Jet as it is?" and added, "If President Moon Jae-in and independent lawmaker Lee Sang-jik have no connection, is there any reason not to summon them?"

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Jun-byung criticized, "It is strange to say that if witnesses related to Eastar Jet are summoned, then the CEO of CJ Logistics can also be summoned," and questioned, "Why is President Moon involved here as if there is some conspiracy?" In response, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong retorted, "Which company has had the most layoffs recently?" and asked, "What conspiracy is there in wanting to summon the people the public truly wants as witnesses?"

Justice Party lawmaker Kang Eun-mi said, "I think it is necessary for lawmaker Lee, who has actual authority over Eastar Jet, to appear," and sharply criticized, "Workers continue to die right before our eyes, and more than 600 workers have been laid off and left homeless on the streets. Passing the buck and not summoning witnesses is a situation where both parties should be held responsible."

In this comprehensive audit, the Environment and Labor Committee agreed to summon the executive director of Coupang Fulfillment Services as a witness and to visit the CJ Logistics logistics terminal on the 21st for a Q&A session with the CEO. However, the witness for Hanjin Delivery was completely removed from the list.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.