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Consultation on ‘Essential measures to protect and support workers’ Lee Nak-yeon, the representative of the Democratic Party, speaks at the party administration meeting for the protection and support of essential workers held in the National Assembly Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th. Rep. Lee said, “There should be separate considerations for special support, such as health checks and health insurance for essential workers and platform workers.” Reporter Jang Seung-yoon [email protected]With the rapid growth of the parcel industry, measures such as limiting working hours per day and banning overnight deliveries are being promoted for courier drivers who average 12 hours of high intensity work per day.
On the 12th, the Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi and Kim Hyun-mi, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, announced a ‘measure to prevent excess courier drivers’ workstation containing these details. This is because President Moon Jae-in ordered special measures to be prepared on the 20th of last month as an accident in which 10 delivery drivers were killed this year alone as the number of packages increased rapidly due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
The key to countermeasures is to △ set maximum working hours per day per courier △ ban overnight deliveries △ induce a 5-day work week △ introduce a standard contract. In particular, products that exclude fresh food delivery will be restricted for overnight delivery after 10pm. Messaging operators are also considering blocking commercial mobile phone applications after 10pm.
The messenger’s social safety net is also expanded. A provision is established to impose the obligation to perform medical check-ups on courier drivers at the agency and penalize courier companies that obstructed workers’ compensation insurance. Government efforts to improve the treatment of courier drivers are due to the fact that most courier drivers are classified as specially hired (especially senior) workers who work through consignment contracts with agencies and are not subject to the Labor Standards Law. For this reason, delivery men are working for a long time, with an average of 12.1 hours of work a day and 6 days a week deliveries without holidays on Sundays or public holidays.
However, there is already a controversy about the effectiveness of countermeasures in the field, as there are no means to enforce this countermeasure even if the countermeasure is not followed. Actually, this measure is confirmed through social discussion as a recommendation. Next month, a countermeasures council against overworked delivery drivers, made up of stakeholders, will be launched to discuss these agendas.
In particular, the government decided to come up with a plan next year after going through social discussions on how to increase the cost of delivery. As the package driver’s working hours decrease, the package driver’s income decreases. To improve the package driver’s treatment, it is necessary to increase the cost of the courier or the delivery fee for the courier driver, but this can lead to burdens for the consumer, so discussions appear to have been delayed in the future. Shipping costs fell from an average of 3,265 won per box in 2002 to 2,269 won last year, and the commission received by drivers from 1,200 won during this period to 800 won.
The countermeasures committee for courier workers (the countermeasures committee) said: “We positively evaluate the government’s measures to avoid overworking courier drivers. It is unclear whether courier companies will fulfill their responsibilities and obligations to this measure”.
Go to reporter’s page Jeong Soon-gu [email protected]>Reporter Song Hye-mi and Choi Hye-ryeong
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