Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City (from left), and Choi Ikyu, Executive Director of Coupang Logistics Policy Team, are posing for a commemorative photo at the commendation ceremony for meritorious persons held at Gwangju City Hall on the morning of the 3rd. Photo by Coupang
Labor organizations in Gwangju have called for on-site inspections regarding repeated worker fatalities, criticizing the city government for awarding Coupang a commendation on the grounds of job creation.
The Gwangju branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a statement on September 5, saying, "On September 3, the Gwangju city government awarded Coupang a mayoral commendation, citing the company's large-scale investment in building a logistics center in the Gwangju area, which was said to invigorate the local economy and contribute to the creation of quality jobs." "However, Coupang has been the subject of ongoing social criticism due to repeated worker fatalities and poor working conditions. Since 2020, 22 workers have died while working at Coupang," the statement said.
They continued, "The 2021 social agreement to prevent overwork among delivery workers has effectively collapsed as Coupang intensified the competition for faster delivery speeds. Coupang's extreme delivery competition not only exacerbates job insecurity and overwork among delivery workers but also drives competitors into endless cutthroat competition, creating a vicious cycle."
They further pointed out, "In August, a worker died while sorting packages at a Coupang logistics center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. In the same month, the Lee Jaemyung administration ordered that all fatal industrial accidents be reported directly to the president, emphasizing that the lives and safety of the public must be the top priority as a national policy task."
Additionally, they stated, "Awarding a commendation to a company that exploits its workers clearly demonstrates how lacking Gwangju's labor sensitivity is. This is not the first time such an issue has arisen with the city administration. Gwangju Global Motors, promoted under the slogan of 'Gwangju-type jobs,' continues to see young workers leave due to low wages and unstable working conditions."
They added, "What Coupang needs is not a 'commendation,' but a thorough 'on-site inspection' to improve working conditions." They urged, "Even now, Gwangju city must put labor respect into action, not just words."
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