Leaders of Civic Groups Call Overwork Death of Delivery Workers "Structural Homicide" and Urge Formation of Social Discussion Body

On the afternoon of the 19th, a "Press Conference by Delivery Consumers Condemning Large Corporation Delivery Companies and Urging Prevention of Overwork Deaths of Delivery Workers" was held in front of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] More than 130 representatives of civil society organizations pointed out structural problems regarding the recent deaths of delivery workers from overwork and demanded the immediate establishment of a social discussion body.

Representatives from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and the Jogye Order Social Labor Committee held an emergency joint declaration containing these points on the 21st at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The attendees stated, "The deaths of delivery workers from overwork are structural homicides," and added, "A key reason delivery workers endure murderous working hours exceeding 71 hours per week is the sorting work forced upon them by conglomerate delivery companies. Although these companies promised to add additional personnel, in reality, they have consistently resorted to lies and tricks."

They continued, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport promised to conduct daily inspections to prevent late-night deliveries, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor pledged on-site guidance, but the actual situation was very different," emphasizing, "If late-night deliveries had been stopped, the successive deaths of delivery workers could have been prevented."

They further stated, "Immediate special measures must be taken to allocate separate personnel for sorting work and to reduce working hours to an appropriate level," adding, "In the COVID-19 era, as the entire nation has become users of delivery services, everyone should come together to organize social monitoring and promote social discussions to prevent deaths from overwork."

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