"We Are People, Not Rockets"... Coupang Workers Condemn Management

Coupang Union Press Conference... Urging Sincere Negotiations
"Alleging Manipulation of Overtime Work Information Over 52 Hours in App"
"Silent on Official Documents Without Guaranteeing Vaccine Leave"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Coupang workers claim they are suffering from overwork exceeding 52 hours per week, and that the company is engaging in unfair practices such as manipulating working hours and restricting the use of vaccine leave.

The National Logistics Center Branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) and the Coupang Branch of the Airport and Port Transport Headquarters held a press conference on the 16th at the union meeting room in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to make these claims.

They appealed that they are not guaranteed sufficient rest time and are suffering from excessive labor exceeding 52 hours per week. They also pointed out the problem of the company shifting responsibility for accidents or disasters occurring in such an environment onto the workers.

In particular, the union stated, "When working hours exceed 52 hours per week, the company committed unfair acts by manipulating working hours to formally comply with the statutory working hours."

They alleged that the company manipulated the input data in Coupang's internal application 'Kupunchi,' which records how many hours were worked in a week. The information indicating overtime exceeding 52 hours was changed one hour later, and when raising issues about this, the headquarters directly settled the matter to cover it up.

Additionally, the union revealed that reports have been continuously received that vaccine leave days are being replaced with workers' annual leave. It was reported that in some workplaces, such as the Siheung 2 Camp, workers who received vaccinations were not granted leave.

The union said, "On the 30th of last month, we sent an official letter titled 'Investigation and Request for Measures on Forced Changes to Workers' Leave Days at the Workplace,' but have not received any response since then," adding, "Even when raising the issue at negotiation meetings, the company only showed an evasive stance, saying 'This matter is not to be discussed here.'"

They emphasized, "All Coupang workers are people, not rockets," and urged, "If Coupang truly desires 'growth and innovation,' it must stop pursuing excessive profits through labor rights violations and engage in negotiations responsibly and sincerely."