Seoul City Provides 75,500 Bottles of Water Free to Delivery and Courier Workers to Beat the Heat

From the 22nd, Ice Boxes Placed at Entrances of 27 Labor Support Centers... One Bottle Per Person Per Day
Distribution Method of Bottled Water Donated by Lotte Chilsung Beverage to the Community Chest for Mobile Workers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will distribute 75,500 bottles of drinking water free of charge to mobile workers such as delivery riders, couriers, quick service workers, and substitute drivers who have been working outdoors for long hours despite the heatwave to ensure their convenience.

This support event involves placing the bottled water donated by Lotte Chilsung Beverage to the Community Chest of Korea at the Labor Comprehensive Support Centers operated by Seoul and in areas densely populated by workers, distributing them to mobile workers suffering from the heatwave. The distribution locations include ▲19 Seoul Metropolitan and district Labor Comprehensive Support Centers ▲5 휴 (休) Mobile Worker Rest Areas (Hapjeong, Bukchang, Seocho, Nokbeon, Dobong) ▲and mobile worker rest areas in Dobong, Gangseo, and Gangdong, totaling 27 locations.

One bottle of water will be provided per person per day, and ice boxes will be installed at the entrances of the distribution sites so that mobile workers can freely take and drink water at their convenience. On the 22nd, the city will hold a ‘Drinking Water Sharing Street Campaign’ near Jonggak Youth Street and Jangtonggyo Bridge. This campaign involves participation from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, and the Metropolitan Weather Administration.

Meanwhile, Seoul operates 22 centers including the ‘Seoul Labor Rights Center’ and ‘Labor Comprehensive Support Centers’ (4 metropolitan and 17 district centers) that provide customized counseling and legal assistance for workers who have experienced unfair treatment or difficulties while working.

Additionally, dedicated rest facilities for the rapidly increasing number of mobile workers, called ‘휴 (休) Mobile Worker Rest Areas,’ have been established in five locations including Seocho, Bukchang, and Hapjeong, providing mobile workers with comfortable spaces to rest. Seoul is also the first in the nation to support accident insurance for delivery riders.

Han Young-hee, Director of Labor, Fairness, and Coexistence Policy at Seoul City, said, “We hope that sharing drinking water will offer a small rest and help to mobile workers who have no choice but to work outdoors despite the heatwave. Also, since the distribution sites are Seoul’s labor comprehensive support facilities, we expect to assist those who need help with inquiries, rights violation counseling, and legal support.”