= On the morning of the 6th, Park Seok-woon, Executive Representative of the Korean Progressive Alliance, is speaking at the "Press Conference Condemning the Chaebol Courier Companies for Unilaterally Breaking the Agreement of the Social Agreement Organization" held at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The countermeasure committee claimed that at the first meeting of the social agreement organization for measures against courier workers' overwork deaths, launched in December last year, it was agreed that the sorting work would be the responsibility of the courier companies, but at the second meeting, the Integrated Logistics Association unilaterally broke this agreement. [Photo by Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Parcel delivery workers have called for measures to prevent overwork, such as additional input before the Lunar New Year holiday.
The Parcel Delivery Workers Overwork Death Countermeasures Committee held a press conference on the 6th at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in Tongin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, claiming that "parcel delivery companies are not keeping their promise to add sorting workers."
The committee stated, "CJ Logistics announced additional sorting workers in Ilsandong-gu, Yeosu, Gangbuk, Gangseo, Nowon, Dongdaemun, Yangcheon, and Sejong without specific details," adding, "these are workers that drivers have already been paying for and deploying for some time." They also claimed, "Hanjin Express and Lotte Global Logistics announced they would deploy 1,000 sorting workers, but in reality, they have not done so yet."
The committee warned, "It is obvious that the volume will increase sharply as the Lunar New Year approaches, but the measures to prevent overwork deaths among parcel delivery workers are in a serious situation due to the breach of agreement by the conglomerate parcel companies and the government's irresponsible attitude," adding, "We will make a critical decision in this situation pushed to the brink."
In response, CJ Logistics stated, "As of the end of December last year, 228 support personnel are working at 15 sub-terminals, of which 102 were deployed after the announcement of the comprehensive protection measures for parcel workers in October," and added, "Costs paid since November have been settled through consultations between the company and delivery points."
Meanwhile, the so-called 'Parcel Worker Overwork Death Prevention Act,' a bill for the development of the living logistics service industry ecosystem in the parcel delivery sector, passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 8th. The bill includes provisions to improve the harsh industry conditions and treatment, as parcel workers have been dying consecutively due to excessive parcel volumes.
The bill first introduced a 'parcel delivery business registration system,' allowing only those who obtain transport business permits under the 'Freight Motor Vehicle Transport Business Act' and meet standards for facilities, equipment, and business offices to operate. It also guarantees parcel workers the right to request renewal of transport consignment contracts for six years to ensure stable contracts between parcel delivery businesses and workers. If a parcel delivery business intends to terminate a contract, it must issue corrective demands specifying contract violations at least twice.
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