Countermeasures needed to prevent deaths caused by overwork
There have been a series of heartbreaking deaths of parcel delivery workers recently, allegedly from overwork. On Oct. 12, a delivery worker employed by Hanjin Express, surnamed Kim, was found dead at his home. Kim, 36, reportedly had few, if any, underlying health problems but complained to people around him of physical exhaustion caused by long working hours. It is hard to tell at this moment exactly what led to his death. However, no one can deny Kim was forced to do excessive work as are other delivery employees.
No fewer than 10 delivery workers have died this year, putting the spotlight on their poor working conditions. They usually sign a contract per district with logistics firms and must finish delivering parcels allotted to their district by the designated date no matter what. Sorting boxes, which begins at dawn and ends around noon, also prolongs their working hours. They are employed by logistics companies but classified as individual operators, finding it difficult to get legal protection as laborers. The current laws recognize delivery workers' rights as laborers to a limited extent. At industrial sites, however, these protective clauses are rarely taken into consideration.
A case in point is frequent failures to apply industrial disaster insurance. Specially hired workers like parcel deliverers have to report their employment to be recognized as laborers, but employers put off such reporting for one reason or another. Even if reports are made, these workers often ask to be excluded from insurance coverage, following indirect coercion from employers wanting to avoid the financial burden.
It is welcome, if belated, that some lawmakers and bureaucrats are moving to rectify these problems and ensure delivery workers' safety and health. These are necessary moves, but more important is to improve their working conditions and guarantee their legal status. Employers should hire them directly and introduce a five-day workweek. The logistics companies should realize that behind all these tragedies is their limitless competition to deliver parcels more rapidly and cheaply. Consumers need to demonstrate more mature citizenry by accepting slower delivery and higher fees, helping these members of the community live like human beings.