A logistics team prepares for parcel delivery on March 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 13 (Korea Bizwire) — The government has advised the delivery industry to allocate only 60 to 70 percent of the average number of deliveries to new parcel delivery workers.
In addition, the government is calling on the industry to quickly hire new drivers and purchase new delivery vehicles.
The move is aimed at protecting workers in the delivery industry, who are struggling with a heavy workload due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
Last Friday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport held a meeting with major players in the delivery industry to explain the government’s recommendations and ask companies to actively comply through their affiliated agencies and other sales offices.
According to Coupang, an online shopping mall, the number of daily deliveries increased from 2 million at the end of last year to 3 million since the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
The government suggested that if delivery volume continues to increase, the current number of vehicles and drivers should be added to as soon as possible and that individual delivery personnel should not have to bare all the burden.
In addition, if it is difficult to recruit more workers and supply vehicles, companies will be required to add additional personnel to carry goods along with existing personnel to support the delivery process.
Furthermore, the government asked the industry to consider the health status, working period and work proficiency of workers when allocating responsibilities.
For example, a proper work load system should be set up and the daily delivery volume of new delivery workers will be allocated within a 60 to 70 percent limit of the average delivery volume of experienced employees.
In addition, under the Labor Standards Act, which mandates that workers take a 30-minute break for every four hours of work, the government has asked the industry to guarantee that delivery workers are actually able to take daily breaks.
The government plans to follow up to see if the recommendations are being respected moving forward, and reflect them in the annual evaluation of courier services.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
