Granting the Right to Stop Work with "No Delivery Days"
Industry-wide Measures: Flexible Working Hours and Other Self-Help Initiatives Introduced
CJ Logistics has decided to designate August 14 and 15 as "No Delivery Days," suspending all deliveries for two days to address the issue of excessive working hours for delivery drivers caused by the heat wave. During this period, delivery drivers will be guaranteed the right to voluntarily stop work, and they will not be penalized for any delivery delays.
On the 11th, the company stated, "We will grant delivery drivers the right to voluntarily stop work and will not hold them responsible for any delayed deliveries," adding, "We also plan to send an official notice to our client companies requesting their understanding regarding possible delivery delays."
Additionally, the company announced that it will consult with groups of drivers in vulnerable health conditions to reduce their workload, and will make it mandatory at all worksites to guarantee rest periods regardless of temperature, requiring a 10-minute break after every 50 minutes of work (or a 20-minute break after 100 minutes of work) during the peak heat season.
This measure is drawing attention in light of a series of recent deaths in the delivery industry amid the ongoing heat wave. According to the National Delivery Workers' Union, on the 4th, the manager A (43) of a delivery agency in Incheon collapsed and died while working; on the 8th, delivery driver B (51) in Gangnam, Seoul, died after showing symptoms of vomiting; and on the 9th, C (53) in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, was found dead at home after returning from work. At the time of the deaths, the conditions at the sites were extreme, with humidity at 90% and the maximum temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius.
The delivery workers' union commented on the situation, stating, "Just as the weakest link breaks first under shock, deaths caused by the heat wave are occurring primarily among the elderly and those with underlying health conditions," and emphasized, "Delivery workers, who load packages outdoors and walk or run more than 20,000 to 30,000 steps a day during deliveries in the heat, are being hit the hardest, and urgent countermeasures are needed."
Efforts to improve regulations at the government level are also ongoing. The Regulatory Reform Committee has approved a revision to the industrial safety and health standards, which guarantees at least a 20-minute break every two hours when the perceived temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, this standard does not apply to specially employed workers, such as delivery drivers.
The industry is also taking action. Coupang has deployed substitute workers during the summer vacation period and notified customers in advance about the possibility of delivery delays. Hanjin has installed cooling facilities at its Daejeon Mega Hub Terminal, and when the workplace temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius, it switches to a "50 minutes work, 10 minutes rest" system. In addition, Hanjin has expanded morning shifts and introduced flexible working arrangements to avoid peak-time deliveries.
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