"This Chuseok, Gifts Should Be Sent by Delivery" 'Contactless' Chuseok... Concerns Over Delivery Workers' Overwork

Citizens Say "Send Chuseok Gifts by Delivery" Amid 'Contactless' Chuseok Recommendations
Increased Delivery Volume Adds to Workload Burden
Experts Warn "More Delivery Workers Dying from Overwork"

As the government recommends 'non-face-to-face' family gatherings for the upcoming Chuseok holiday, more citizens are sending Chuseok gifts and other items via courier. The photo shows employees busily handling the surge of parcels and deliveries ahead of Chuseok at the Dong Seoul Postal Logistics Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul last year. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Seul-gi] As the government encourages family gatherings during the upcoming Chuseok holiday to be 'contactless' to prevent the regional spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), more citizens are opting to send Chuseok gifts via delivery services. The delivery industry is concerned that the surge in volume due to the 'contactless Chuseok' will increase the workload burden on delivery workers.

Citizens are responding by holding contactless Chuseok gatherings in accordance with the recommendations of health authorities and plan to send gifts via delivery services.

Park, a worker in his 30s, said, "Since I won't be able to visit my parents this Chuseok, I plan to send one or two more types of gifts than last year." He added, "Online marts have already started taking reservations for Chuseok gifts, so I have applied. Although I am worried that deliveries might be delayed due to congestion, I am not overly concerned because the delivery system is well established."

Kim, a worker in his 50s, also said, "Since it is a holiday, I plan to send gifts via delivery to those I am grateful to around me. Given the current situation, it feels awkward to meet in person to deliver gifts." He added, "The government has also advised continuing social distancing for the time being, so I plan to express my gratitude this Chuseok 'contactlessly' using delivery services."

The problem is that delivery workers are bearing the heavy workload caused by the increased volume.

The 'Delivery Workers Overwork Death Countermeasures Committee' announced the results of a survey on the overwork deaths of delivery workers on the 10th. According to the survey, since COVID-19, the workload of delivery workers has increased by 30%, while working conditions have worsened.

Since COVID-19, sorting tasks have increased by 35.8%, and delivery tasks by 26.8%, resulting in an average weekly working time of 71.3 hours. Considering that the delivery industry is classified as a special exception sector under the 52-hour workweek system, this highlights the excessive workload of delivery workers.

The Overwork Death Countermeasures Committee warned that with the already increased delivery volume due to COVID-19, the upcoming surge in volume for the 'contactless Chuseok' will further exacerbate the workload burden on delivery workers.

Officials from the Task Force on Overwork Deaths of Delivery Workers held a press conference on the morning of the 1st in front of the Cheongwadae Sarangchae, urging the deployment of personnel for parcel sorting work.
Photo by Yonhap News

The distribution industry and government are preparing countermeasures in anticipation of a surge in delivery volume during the 'contactless Chuseok.'

On the 10th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) predicted that this year's Chuseok delivery volume will increase by 30% compared to the previous year due to COVID-19 and other factors. Accordingly, MOLIT held a meeting with industry representatives and announced the 'Chuseok Holiday Peak Season and COVID-19 Response Delivery Volume Management Strengthening and Worker Protection Recommendations' to prepare for the peak season.

Lee Jin-cheol, Director of the Logistics Industry Division at MOLIT, said at the meeting, "In April, MOLIT announced the first set of recommendations regarding the protection of delivery workers. Since these are recommendations and not laws, delivery companies that do not comply have been restricted by reflecting this in the delivery service evaluation rankings."

He added, "Although insufficient, some changes have been observed among companies. Some have implemented a five-day workweek, conducted health checkups, or increased delivery personnel at certain branches."

Experts expressed concern that the surge in volume due to COVID-19 and the 'contactless Chuseok' has worsened the working environment for delivery workers.

On the 1st, Yoo Sung-wook, Secretary General of the National Delivery Solidarity Union, said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "From February to August, one delivery worker has died from overwork every month. I have been working in delivery for nine years, but this is the first time so many have died from overwork in such a short period."

Secretary Yoo explained, "Compared to before COVID-19, the delivery volume has noticeably increased. In January, I delivered about 250 packages a day, but recently it has been around 300 to 320. I work more than 14 hours a day without rest." He added, "We have been continuously requesting the government and delivery companies to temporarily deploy helpers during the special period of September and October ('contactless Chuseok')."