[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Coupang Eats delivery workers demanded the abolition of the uninsured policy, along with an apology and compensation, in relation to the death of a delivery worker caused by a traffic accident near the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 1st.
The Coupang Eats Joint Negotiation Team (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service General Union Delivery Platform Branch and Rider Union) held a press conference in front of Coupang Eats headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul that afternoon, stating, "Coupang Eats must abolish the uninsured policy and introduce hourly insurance."
The Joint Negotiation Team criticized, "A delivery worker working for Coupang Eats died in an accident on the 30th of last month, but the deceased did not meet the industrial accident insurance criteria of a monthly income of 1.15 million KRW and 93 working hours, so industrial accident insurance was not applied."
The Joint Negotiation Team pointed out, "Most Coupang Eats workers who work two jobs do not meet these criteria, so even if an accident occurs while working, they cannot receive industrial accident insurance. Coupang Eats recruits people but does not take responsibility for safety."
The Joint Negotiation Team added, "As of 2021, the number of people who have made at least one delivery for Coupang Eats reached 600,000, but except for a two-hour online training, there is no safety education system. This incident was an inevitable accident resulting from Coupang Eats' safety negligence policy. We demand the immediate abolition of the uninsured policy, the introduction of hourly insurance, and an apology and compensation to the bereaved families."
Addressing the government, the Joint Negotiation Team said, "Abolish the exclusivity criteria of industrial accident insurance and apply industrial accident insurance if even one paid job has been performed."
Coupang Eats stated, "We conduct safety education according to relevant laws and regulations and mandate industrial accident insurance enrollment for delivery riders."
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