[Exclusive] Saturday Off and Health Checkup Cost Support... Courier Worker Measures to Be Announced This Week

Government to Establish Comprehensive Measures Including Granting Days Off and Supporting Health Checkup Costs
Delivery Solidarity Union: "Need for Industry Guidance and Inspection... Additional Volume Handling Plans During Health Checkups Must Be Prepared"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), cases of delivery workers dying from overwork have been occurring one after another, and the government is set to introduce a comprehensive plan to protect their right to life and health. The plan includes granting days off and supporting health checkup costs using the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance and Prevention Fund (Industrial Accident Fund).

According to related ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 10th, the government will announce these measures at the Emergency Economic Central Countermeasures Headquarters meeting combined with the Foreign Economic Ministers' Meeting on the 12th. A government official stated, "We plan to announce a comprehensive support plan for delivery workers at this week's Economic Central Countermeasures meeting," adding, "We are preparing comprehensive measures including support for health checkup costs and improvements to the day-off system."

The government is also discussing ways to improve the day-off system for delivery workers to reduce the burden of overwork. Currently, delivery workers operating under the consignment system are individual business owners and do not have guaranteed days off. Therefore, the government is considering designating specific days such as Saturdays as days off or providing subsidies to business owners who guarantee a certain number of days off.

Additionally, to improve the overall health management level of delivery workers, the government plans to support the costs of health checkups through the Industrial Accident Fund. A government official said, "The operation of the Industrial Accident Fund itself is stable," and added, "Besides, about 5 to 6 trillion won in reserve funds have been secured, so there is no risk to fiscal soundness." According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the accumulated amount of the Industrial Accident Fund was 19.5 trillion won as of 2019, increasing by 3.6 trillion won over two years. The government plans to implement a comprehensive health checkup system through 16 comprehensive health screening centers nationwide, including Seoul and Busan.

The government is also discussing ways to alleviate the sorting workload that delivery workers have been demanding, but it is uncertain whether this will be included in the current plan.

Previously, the Delivery Solidarity Union demanded guaranteed days off, reduction of sorting work hours, financial support, and application of industrial accident insurance. Kim Segyu, Director of Education and Public Relations at the National Delivery Solidarity Union, said, "The industry has proposed measures such as adding personnel for sorting work, but problems such as passing costs onto agencies are occurring," and added, "It is most important for the government to conduct guidance and inspections of the delivery industry." He further stated, "Even if health checkups are supported, it will be difficult to actually receive them if issues like handling the volume in one's own area are not resolved."

Meanwhile, the government plans to promote the enactment of the Living Logistics Development Act by February 2021. The Living Logistics Development Act will include ▲recommendations for drafting and using standard contracts ▲obligations to ensure rest and expand safety facilities ▲delivery workers' right to request contract renewal (6 years) ▲addition of service evaluation criteria items.

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