Unending Deaths of Delivery Workers... Delivery Workers' Union Demands "Improve Long Working Hours"

On the afternoon of the 24th, members of organizations including Cheongnyeonhada are urging measures to prevent overwork deaths of delivery workers in front of Hanjin Express headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Recently, delivery workers in the courier industry, which has seen a surge in workload since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), have been dying one after another. One delivery worker even died while resting in a parking lot break room due to exhaustion from work. This year, 13 delivery workers are estimated to have lost their lives due to overwork.

The Delivery Workers Overwork Death Countermeasures Committee announced on the 22nd, "CJ Logistics transport worker Mr. A suddenly collapsed while resting in a makeshift break room in the parking lot after completing dispatch at Gyeonggi-do Gonjiam Hub Terminal around 11:50 p.m. on the 20th. He was transported to the hospital but passed away around 1 a.m. on the 21st."

Mr. A was responsible for transporting delivery items with a large truck between CJ Paju Hub Terminal and Gonjiam Hub Terminal. According to the committee and the bereaved family, Mr. Kang had been suffering from long working hours just before his death. He started work around 2 p.m. on the 18th and worked until noon on the 19th before leaving. After only five hours, he returned to work at 5 p.m. on the 19th and continued working until he collapsed on the night of the 20th.

The committee stated, "The deceased mainly worked night shifts and had been working for several days under time pressure without proper rest. It is understood that working hours increased by more than 50% compared to usual due to the sharp increase in delivery volume caused by COVID-19."

Despite the consecutive deaths of delivery workers, delivery companies are still responding lukewarmly, prompting civic groups and labor organizations to condemn them. On the 24th, the Seoul and Gyeonggi Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the National Delivery Solidarity Union, and the Progressive Party gathered in front of Hanjin Delivery headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, urging, "Delivery companies must take responsibility for workers' overwork deaths and present measures to improve long working hours."

They said, "A Hanjin Delivery worker who died on the 12th left a message at 4:28 a.m. saying, 'I am so exhausted.' Yet, Hanjin Delivery only issued a superficial apology without any concrete measures for late-night delivery."

They continued, "Coupang also only excuses itself by saying the deceased 'was not a delivery driver,' without reflecting on the murderous working hours and poor working conditions."

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