Busan City Solves Platform Workers' 'Safety and Heat' Issues in One Go

On-site Demand Survey, Support for Ice and Heating Vests, Promotion of Bodycam Rental Project

Expectations for Crime Prevention and Workplace Environment Improvement for Substitute Drivers Against Violence and Sexual Harassment

Busan City will provide 111 ice vests to create a safe and comfortable working environment for platform workers and rent 62 body cameras to designated drivers.

Busan City Hall.

Platform workers refer collectively to those who provide labor through online platforms, such as designated drivers, delivery workers, and domestic service workers.

This project was selected in March through a public contest hosted by the Ministry of Employment and Labor for the ‘Platform Workers Workplace Improvement Support Project.’ Although the number of platform workers is increasing due to recent changes in the industrial system, many work under vulnerable conditions without safety protection measures. This project was promoted to establish at least a minimum safe labor provision environment for them.

This support project identifies needs through interviews with field stakeholders and provides practical on-site equipment support, such as renting body cameras (cameras attached to the body to record on-site footage) to protect the personal safety of designated drivers, especially women who are vulnerable to self-defense, and supplying ice vests to create a comfortable workplace environment against heatwaves.

In particular, it is expected that renting body cameras will prevent violence and sexual harassment crimes targeting female designated drivers, promote psychological stability for drivers, and have a significant effect on resolving disputes between drivers and users.

Regarding the distribution of ice vests, the first application period will be from July 19 to 25 for those who have completed job and safety training at the Busan Mobile (Platform) Workers Support Center, and the second application period will be from July 26 until supplies last for general platform workers.

For body camera rentals, the first application period will be from July 19 to 31 for female and other vulnerable designated drivers, and the second application period will start from August 1 for general designated drivers. The rental period is three months.

Eligibility requires that as of the application date, the applicant must be registered as a resident (workplace) in Busan City or have worked at least 50% of the time in the Busan area between April and June 2023 as a platform worker. For body cameras, only designated drivers are eligible.

For efficient project operation, applications and distributions will be handled at three locations of the Busan Mobile (Platform) Workers Support Center (Seomyeon, Sasang, Haeundae).

Lee Soo-il, Director of the Administrative Autonomy Bureau of Busan City, said, “Last year, we opened additional Mobile (Platform) Workers Support Centers in Sasang and Haeundae, establishing a comprehensive welfare system for mobile (platform) workers throughout Busan City along with the existing Seomyeon center. Through this project, we will further activate center operations and actively support practical improvements in workplace conditions and rights enhancement in the future.”

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