Endless Deaths of Delivery Workers... 'Unpaid Labor' Sorting Tasks, Nothing Has Changed

Courier Union, 6-7 Hours of Sorting Work Daily
10 Deaths This Year... Tragedy Repeats
"Call for Support in Sorting Workforce"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] There are ongoing concerns that the so-called "free labor" known as "sorting work" is the cause behind the consecutive deaths of delivery workers. While decisive action such as manpower support from delivery companies is necessary, difficulties in finding solutions raise fears that such tragedies could happen again at any time.

On the 19th, Park Seok-woon, co-representative of the Delivery Workers' Overwork Death Countermeasures Committee, said in a phone interview, "The companies are pushing the 'free labor' sorting work onto delivery workers as part of their duties," adding, "Even after raising the issue before Chuseok, the situation on the ground has not changed at all. This problem can only be solved by deploying additional personnel."

Sorting work refers to the task where delivery drivers pick out their assigned packages from the logistics warehouse. Delivery drivers can only start their main job of "delivery" after finishing the sorting work. Although sorting work is labor-intensive and time-consuming, companies claim that the sorting work cost is included in the delivery fee and have not proposed measures such as additional manpower or applying extra pay.

However, the delivery workers' union argues that drivers spend an average of 6 to 7 hours per day on sorting work, causing their total daily working hours to exceed 13 hours. On the 17th of last month, the National Delivery Solidarity Labor Union even resolved to go on a general strike over the sorting work issue. The strike was averted after the government and companies promised to provide manpower support for about 2,000 workers. Nevertheless, the union claims that the actual number of workers deployed on site remains minimal despite the government's manpower support plan.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the volume of deliveries has surged, and there have already been 10 cases of delivery workers dying from overwork. Of the 24 deaths in the past five years, 10 occurred this year alone.

According to the delivery workers' union, it was recently revealed that Kim (36), who worked at Hanjin Delivery's Dongdaemun branch in Seoul, was found dead at his home on the 12th. On the day of his death, a colleague visited Kim's house after he suddenly did not show up for work and discovered his death. It is also known that Kim left a record stating, "Work ends at 5 a.m." The union believes overwork is highly likely to be the cause of death. However, the company stated, "Kim's usual delivery volume was about 200 boxes per day, which is less than his colleagues," and added, "According to the National Forensic Service autopsy results, it appears he died from a pre-existing condition (cardiovascular disease)." ?