[Takryucheongron] We Must First Form a Practical Countermeasure Council

Kim Se-gyu, Director of Education and Publicity Bureau, National Courier Solidarity Union

"I am so sorry and apologetic for ordering delivery.", "In this day and age, death from overwork... How could this happen?", "It's okay to receive it a little late, but please improve the treatment of delivery workers."

The public expressed deep sorrow over the consecutive news of delivery workers dying from overwork. The people, who have endured difficult days due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), had to helplessly watch the deaths of delivery workers, the 'unsung heroes of COVID.' On the 12th, the government ministries jointly announced the 'Measures to Prevent Overwork of Delivery Workers.' After announcing special measures during the last Chuseok holiday, they have now prepared a comprehensive plan. This plan consists of 5 major tasks and 29 items, which indicates how many areas need improvement.

Although somewhat delayed, the government's efforts are seen as positive. In particular, it is noteworthy that they declared to improve the harsh working conditions of delivery workers through laws and systems, not just one-time events, including the application of industrial accident insurance, specifying employer obligations regarding long working hours, conducting health checkups, and follow-up management.

However, including the improvement of the 'sorting work,' which was identified as a core cause of long working hours for delivery workers, and key issues such as implementing a five-day workweek and guaranteeing appropriate fees, these must still be promoted through agreements between labor and management, leading to criticism that the measures are only half-hearted.

Last month, major delivery companies such as CJ Logistics, Hanjin, and Lotte apologized to the public regarding delivery workers' deaths from overwork and announced that they would deploy sorting personnel starting this month. However, sorting personnel have still not been deployed. Some even attempted to shift the cost of deploying personnel onto the delivery workers. To prevent the government’s measures from becoming mere pieces of paper, the government must bring forward the delivery companies that are still hiding behind the scenes. In this regard, the government's announcement to establish and operate a 'Delivery Worker Overwork Prevention Council' is a very important matter.

The government, delivery companies, and delivery workers must sit down together to discuss sensitive issues where opinions differ, such as improving sorting work, implementing a five-day workweek, and improving the delivery price structure. Although 15 delivery workers have died from overwork this year alone, delivery companies still do not even recognize delivery workers as their employees and have never had a single conversation with them. Through a consultative body among the government, delivery companies, and delivery workers, it is important to submit not 100 unimplemented measures but 10 effective and realistic measures with substance.

Furthermore, it is essential to push for the enactment of the Living Logistics Service Industry Act, also known as the Delivery Act, which is currently pending in the National Assembly, within this year. Since there is no delivery-related law at all, the current delivery field is no different from a lawless zone, where all kinds of power abuse, loopholes, and tricks run rampant. Naturally, all the damage is passed directly to the most vulnerable delivery workers. Enacting the Delivery Act will be the most fundamental step to prevent delivery workers' deaths from overwork and improve their harsh working conditions.

Thanks to the efforts of many citizens who support and cheer for delivery workers, delivery companies have acknowledged their responsibility for delivery workers' deaths from overwork, and government measures have been drawn out. However, the most important thing is the actual improvement of delivery workers' treatment. While the unexpected increase in volume due to COVID-19 is one factor in delivery workers' deaths from overwork, it is ultimately the result of the harsh environment faced by delivery workers, who as special employment workers, have received no legal protection. We hope that this government measure announcement will bring new sprouts to the barren delivery field.

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