[Report] Delivery Workers Battle the Heatwave: "Breaks Are Just a Pipe Dream"

No Rest Guaranteed for Specially Employed Workers
Exposed to Scorching Sun All Day During Loading, Unloading, and Deliveries
"Rest for Mobile Workers... Desperate Need for Commission Increase"

On the afternoon of the 9th, when the heatwave with daytime temperatures exceeding 36 degrees continued, Seunggon Son (43) is seen climbing onto a delivery truck to sort packages at an apartment complex in Gwangsan District, Gwangju. Photo by Chanki Min

"Even when working in the heatwave, there is no time to catch my breath. Taking a break is just a pipe dream," he said.

On the afternoon of the 9th, at an apartment complex in Gwangsan District, Gwangju, where the relentless heatwave continued. With midday temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius, Seunggon Son (43), who was sorting packages inside a delivery truck, said, "Delivery workers like us, who are mobile workers and specially employed workers, cannot rest even in this extreme heat. The only option is to finish the work quickly while hoping nothing goes wrong. There is no other solution."

The delivery truck, exposed directly to the sun, was stifling as soon as you stepped inside. After parking his truck in front of an apartment building, Son sorted about 10 to 20 packages and loaded them onto a cart. Even though it was only 5 to 10 minutes of work, his face and back were already drenched in sweat.

Son repeated this process as he moved around the apartment complex. The number of packages to be delivered to this complex alone was about 250. Delivering goods all day, repeatedly getting in and out of the truck, he said he suffers from back pain every day. In particular, since he is paid a commission per package, he has to finish deliveries without a moment's rest and move on to the next location. Even this commission has been frozen for years.

Son said, "After finishing a delivery at one building and getting back into the truck to move to the next place, even in that short time, the steering wheel is burning hot. For most delivery workers, the only break is sitting in the car with the air conditioner on while moving between locations," he said. "After finishing more than 10 hours of deliveries a day, I feel dizzy and completely drained."

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's industrial safety and health standards, outdoor workers must be provided with sufficient rest when the perceived temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius. However, for most delivery workers like Son, who are specially employed and not directly affiliated with a delivery company, rest and compliance with the Labor Standards Act are out of reach.

On the afternoon of the 9th, Seunggon Son is sorting parcels loaded on a delivery truck at an apartment complex in Gwangsan District, Gwangju. Photo by Chanki Min

Son's day begins at 7 a.m. with loading and unloading packages arriving at the delivery company. After about four hours of sorting work until 11 a.m., he starts full-scale deliveries. Even at the delivery site, cooling equipment such as fans must be purchased at their own expense. Carts, gloves, vests, and other gear are also paid for by each delivery worker individually.

The number of packages he is responsible for each day is about 500 to 600. In densely populated apartment complexes, up to 60 packages can be handled per hour, but in commercial buildings or studio apartments, the number drops by half. Because he must meet his daily quota, it is common to work until midnight, and sometimes he finishes the remaining work with his wife.

Last year, Son suffered from a heat-related illness while working, and he is even more afraid of this year's heat. Moreover, considering the work environment, the mobile worker rest areas operated by each district are not accessible at all.

Son said, "Around August last year, while delivering packages, I suddenly felt weak all over and almost collapsed. When I went to the hospital, I was diagnosed with heatstroke and received treatment," he recalled. "This year, the heat started earlier, so I am worried about getting sick again. I am deliberately sharing some of my packages with colleagues, but since it is directly related to income, I am concerned."

He added, "For delivery workers who are not protected by law, such as taking breaks during heatwaves, it is urgent to raise the delivery commission so that we can at least receive some compensation. However, the company (CJ Logistics) keeps repeating, 'If you want to earn more, deliver more packages.' Delivery workers have fixed routes and, due to the nature of the job, have to keep moving without rest, so mobile worker rest areas are practically meaningless," he said.

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's heat-related illness emergency room surveillance system, from May 15, when this year's count began, to July 7, there were 89 cases of heat-related illness in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province?19 in Gwangju and 70 in South Jeolla. Compared to the same period last year, when there were 11 cases in Gwangju and 39 in South Jeolla (a total of 50), this is a 78% increase. At 11:51 a.m. the previous day, a man in his 50s, referred to as Mr. A, was transported to a hospital for a heat-related illness while loading and unloading packages in Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City.