Restrictions on Late-Night Parcel Deliveries... What Do You Think About Measures to Prevent Overwork?

Government Announces 'Measures to Prevent Overwork of Delivery Workers'... Launches Field Inspection
9 out of 10 Citizens Say "Excessive Working Hours of Delivery Workers Must Be Reduced"
Experts Say "Intense Night Work Causes Health Issues... Employers Must Be Held Accountable"

On the 12th, employees are moving goods at a courier logistics center in downtown Seoul, where the government decided to establish policies supporting essential workers, such as the 'National Employment Insurance System' and 'Measures to Prevent Overwork Deaths of Courier Workers.' The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Recently, amid a series of accidents where delivery workers have died due to excessive workloads, the government has prepared measures to prevent overwork-related deaths among delivery drivers, focusing on recommendations such as restricting late-night deliveries and introducing a five-day workweek. However, debates continue among citizens regarding government measures like limiting late-night deliveries and implementing Saturday holidays. While there is recognition of the need to improve the working conditions and treatment of delivery workers, there are concerns that some consumer rights might be infringed upon.

On the 12th, Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi announced the 'Measures to Prevent Overwork of Delivery Drivers' at the Government Seoul Office. The measures include ▲setting a maximum daily working hour standard ▲restricting late-night deliveries ▲spreading five-day workweeks including Saturday holidays ▲expanding industrial accident insurance ▲applying employment insurance ▲and expanding the distribution of standard contracts. The aim is to improve the working environment of delivery drivers, who mostly operate as individual business owners under consignment contracts with delivery companies or agencies.

Minister Lee stated, "Since the launch of the first delivery service in 1992, the delivery industry has continuously grown, and with the rapid growth of mobile shopping and the COVID-19 situation, it has become a universal service for the public," adding, "This year, the deaths of 10 delivery drivers have revealed the limits of quantitative growth."

He added, "We will improve the system to prevent overwork of delivery drivers and expand the social safety net to enhance their working environment."

As social consensus has formed regarding the need to improve the treatment of delivery workers following a series of fatal accidents, citizens have voiced support for these measures.

However, some consumers continue to express dissatisfaction with restrictions on late-night deliveries. Since late-night delivery services like Coupang's 'Rocket Delivery' and Market Kurly's 'Dawn Delivery' have already become standard in the e-commerce market, such restrictions could cause inconvenience to consumers. There are calls for alternative measures such as shortening working hours and increasing shift work instead of outright limiting late-night deliveries.

Office worker Park (31), who frequently used late-night delivery services, said, "I live alone near my office, and due to the nature of my job, I often work overtime, go on business trips, and have on-call or weekend shifts, so I frequently used delivery services because it was difficult to shop or go out," adding, "I was surprised to learn from recent reports that the treatment of delivery workers was very poor."

Park added, "While institutional shortcomings and unfair treatment should obviously be improved, I don't think restricting Saturday or late-night deliveries will help either consumers or workers. Late-night delivery has already become a new business model. For late-night work, I think other measures are needed, such as reducing labor intensity and working hours compared to daytime and promoting rotational shifts. Unconditional Saturday holidays and late-night restrictions might have adverse effects."

On the 12th, at a courier logistics center in downtown Seoul where the government decided to establish policies supporting essential workers such as the 'National Employment Insurance System' and 'Measures to Prevent Overwork Deaths of Courier Workers,' employees are moving goods. Photo by Yonhap News

According to a survey, more than 8 out of 10 citizens said they could tolerate inconveniences caused by improving the treatment of delivery workers.

According to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 10th, a survey on 'Improving the Working Environment of Delivery Workers' was conducted on 1,628 people via the 국민생각함 (National Thoughts) website from the 29th of last month to the 5th of this month. The results showed that 95.9% of respondents agreed on the 'necessity of mandatory industrial accident insurance enrollment for delivery workers.' Respondents who said 'excessive working hours of workers should be reduced' and 'sorting and delivery tasks should be separated' accounted for 95.6% and 93.4%, respectively.

Additionally, 87.2% of respondents answered "If the treatment of delivery workers can be improved, I can tolerate delivery delays caused by policy or system implementation," and 73.9% agreed to a partial increase in delivery fees if used for improving delivery workers' treatment.

Experts believe that restrictions on same-day and late-night deliveries are necessary except in cases where they are absolutely essential to improve workers' treatment.

Lim Sang-hyuk, director of Green Hospital, said on last month's YTN Radio program 'Wise Radio Life,' "Same-day delivery involves long working hours from morning to dawn, which is problematic," adding, "It involves high-intensity night work. Long working hours or night work are harmful to health and can cause diseases such as heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, which can lead to death."

He continued, "If I were to make a long-term proposal, same-day delivery, bullet delivery, rocket delivery?these did not exist in the past. It would be better to ban them except when absolutely necessary," advising, "If higher delivery fees are charged or differentiated for necessary cases, delivery workers might be able to work more healthily."

Director Lim emphasized, "Due to COVID-19, delivery workers' working hours have increased and they have had to work late at night, but since they are not recognized as workers under the current system, employers bear no responsibility," stressing, "System improvements are needed to recognize them as workers."

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