16 Deaths Among Platform Workers This Year... Fines Imposed on 12 Platform Companies

Ministry of Employment Announces Workplace Inspections and Worker Survey Results

Platform Worker Fatalities Increased from 2 in 2017 to 16 This Year

Fines Issued to 12 Companies... Most Violations for 'Safety Helmet Checks' at Workplaces

Surveyed 5,626 Workers from 6 Companies Including Baemin Riders
47% Reported "Traffic Accident Experience"... 28% of Them Cited "Delivery Pressure"

Ministry of Employment to Implement Comprehensive Measures to Reduce Delivery Worker Accidents

On August 29, the scene in front of Seolleung Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, showing a memorial space for delivery platform workers. On the 26th of the same month, a delivery worker was hit and killed by a cargo truck on a road near the station. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The number of platform workers who died in accidents has increased eightfold over the past four years. It was also found that some food delivery platform companies violated their obligations under the Industrial Safety and Health Act by failing to check whether workers were equipped with safety helmets. In response, the government announced that it will prepare a 'Comprehensive Response Plan to Reduce Accidents Among Delivery Workers.'

On the 26th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it had detected violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act by 12 food delivery platform companies nationwide, imposed fines, and requested corrective actions. It also disclosed the results of workplace inspections and a survey conducted on 5,626 workers affiliated with major platform companies. The number of fatal accidents involving delivery platform workers increased from 2 in 2017, 7 in 2018, 7 in 2019, 17 last year, to 16 from January to October this year, prompting workplace inspections and the survey of workers.

First, the Ministry of Employment and Labor reported that among 17 platform companies nationwide, 12 violated the Industrial Safety and Health Act and were fined and asked to make corrections. The names of the companies and the amount of fines were not disclosed. Platform companies are considered delivery intermediaries under the Industrial Safety and Health Act because they mediate between restaurants and delivery workers through apps. Companies that operate only the app are commonly called 'separated-type companies.' These companies have the obligation to check whether workers are equipped with helmets that meet the Road Traffic Act standards. 'Integrated-type companies,' which operate the app, contract with delivery workers, and directly perform delivery tasks, must fulfill both the delivery intermediary obligations and duties such as safety and health education and prohibiting the use of malfunctioning motorcycles.

The inspection results showed that violations related to helmet checks were the most frequent, with 10 cases. There were 3 cases of motorcycle maintenance checks and 2 cases of notifications related to safe driving. However, no delivery platform companies were found to restrict delivery times to the extent that would cause accidents among workers.

The Ministry also disclosed the results of a survey conducted on 5,626 workers from six companies including Baedal Minjok Riders, Coupang Eats, Barogo, Saenggakdaero, Vroong, and Superhero. Among respondents, 95% (5,355) were male and 5% (271) female. The age groups were mainly in their 30s (1,963; 35%) and 40s (1,918; 34%). Full-time delivery workers accounted for 68% (3,843), while part-time workers were 32% (1,783). The average monthly income was 2.87 million KRW for full-time workers and 1.37 million KRW for part-time workers. The average daily delivery time was 9.4 hours for full-time workers and 5.6 hours for part-time workers. However, workers who reported delivering for more than 12 hours a day were counted as 12 hours, so actual times may be longer.

Notably, nearly half (47%, 2,620) of respondents reported experiencing traffic accidents while delivering. On average, respondents experienced 2.4 accidents. The main causes of accidents were violations of traffic laws by the other party or themselves (1,909; 73%), followed by weather conditions (333; 13%). Among age groups, workers in their 20s or younger had the highest accident experience rate.

Although workplace inspections did not find cases where platform companies restricted delivery times to cause accidents, 86% (4,858) of respondents said they had experienced delivery rush pressure. Delivery rush pressure came mostly from restaurants (4,189), ordering customers (3,772), local delivery agencies (1,690), and delivery platform companies (1,558). Particularly, among those who experienced delivery rush pressure, about 50% had experienced accidents during delivery, whereas only about 23% of those who did not experience rush pressure had accidents, a difference of more than half. Regarding reasons for hurrying deliveries, 28% (1,573) answered it was due to delivery rush pressure, second only to performing the next order (65%, 3,648).

The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated that based on workplace inspections and survey results, it will develop a comprehensive response plan to reduce accidents among delivery workers. First, reflecting the improvements needed revealed by inspections, it plans to promote safety agreements with major delivery platform companies and encourage voluntary compliance by the industry. Detailed measures for safety actions and raising safety awareness among delivery workers are currently under discussion between the government and the industry.

The Ministry also announced plans to inspect small local delivery agencies that were excluded from this workplace inspection. This means investigating companies that use platform companies' smartphone apps and contract directly with delivery workers in local areas to perform delivery tasks. Additionally, related campaigns will be promoted to improve delivery rush pressure and unreasonable demands from restaurants and ordering customers.

Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-deok said, "As the number of platform workers has recently increased, efforts to create safe and healthy jobs for workers are crucial at this time," and explained, "In the delivery platform industry, all users of the platform?including platform companies, delivery agencies, restaurant owners, ordering customers, and workers?affect the safety of workers." He added, "To ensure the safety of delivery workers, changes in awareness and behavior of all platform users are necessary," and said, "We will strive to establish a culture of safe delivery in our society."

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