Delivery Labor Union and Management Agree on Measures to Prevent Deaths from Overwork... Logistics Crisis Averted Ahead of Lunar New Year

Delivery workers are moving goods at a courier logistics center in Seoul on the morning of the 19th, as the delivery workers' union demands measures from courier companies to prevent death from overwork and warns of a total strike if negotiations fail. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The delivery labor union and companies have reached a final agreement to improve delivery workers' labor conditions. This will help avoid a 'logistics crisis' ahead of the Lunar New Year, when shipment volumes significantly increase.

According to the Delivery Solidarity Union on the 21st, the delivery companies and the union reached a final agreement on the government's mediation proposal early that morning.

After negotiations broke down at the 5th meeting of the social agreement body involving labor, management, the National Assembly, and the government on the 19th, the government held long discussions with delivery companies opposing the designation of sorting tasks as their responsibility on the 20th and prepared a revised proposal. After consultations between labor and management on this proposal, an agreement was reached.

The agreement includes the controversial provision that sorting tasks will be the responsibility of the delivery companies. The union has long argued that sorting work is not part of delivery workers' duties and has caused long working hours and deaths from overwork, urging the designation of company responsibility. Measures to prevent overwork, such as restrictions on night work, are reportedly included.

The union decided to suspend the ongoing strike vote that started the day before and withdraw the planned general strike. The union plans to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. regarding this agreement. As a result, a logistics crisis is expected to be avoided ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Democratic Party, the government, and the delivery labor union will hold a signing ceremony at the National Assembly around 9 a.m. on the 21st.