Kim Jong-in Meets Delivery Workers: "Sacrifices Are Too Great... Labor Relations Law Must Be Reexamined"

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending and speaking at the discussion forum titled "How to Protect Platform Workers?" held at the National Assembly on the 30th, which invited special employment workers and related personnel. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, met with special employment workers engaged in delivery and courier services on the 30th to commend their efforts and emphasize the revision of labor-related laws.

On the same day, Kim held a "Meeting to Prepare Measures for the Protection of Special-Type Workers" at the National Assembly, stating, "There have already been fifteen deaths. The sacrifices of courier workers are too great."

He said, "As the industrial structure is being reorganized overall, the difficulties faced by special employment workers are becoming serious. The 500,000 platform workers are being pushed into a blind spot where the Labor Standards Act does not apply," adding, "We will prepare new labor-related laws that reflect these various forms of employment."

Kim also mentioned, "There is a difference in perspective on whether courier workers are in the position of employees or have a status similar to self-employed individuals," and said, "I think it is difficult because a significant number of them do not have employment contracts like regular workers." He pointed out that the current situation only looks at the sacrifices of the workers.

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader, also emphasized, "An accurate survey of the status of platform labor by industry and type must be conducted first, and then we should quickly study and adopt cases from major advanced countries leading the protection of platform workers." He added, "France codified the guarantee of the three labor rights for platform workers through labor law revisions, and the European Parliament also established transparent working conditions."

The People Power Party plans to launch a Special Committee on Labor Innovation under the Emergency Response Committee to lead the revision of labor laws.