Overwork is Driving South Korea’s Delivery People towards Death
Seoul: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world- the latest count being over 4.7 crore cases and more than 12 lakh deaths. Amidst of all that, a report notes that the deaths of about 14 delivery personnel in South Korea can be linked to overworking and the resulting exhaustion.
BBC describes the plight of one such worker, Mr Kim, who was found dead the day after he had delivered 400 packages in a 21-hour shift.
“In August, South Korea’s labour ministry stepped in and urged the country’s major logistics companies to sign a declaration to ensure drivers got enough rest and did not have to work continuous overnight shifts,” the report adds.
BBC reports that delivery drivers in South Korea are struggling to cope with the increasing volume of online orders during the pandemic.
One of the drivers who died was 27-year-old Jang Deok-jin, a former Taekwondo enthusiast who had lost 15kg (33lbs) after doing 18 months of night shifts, according to his family. Deok-jin came home from a night shift earlier this month at around six in the morning and headed for a shower. His father found him dead face down in the bathtub an hour later.
"We loved that boy. When he said it was such hard work we told him it was ok to stop working, but he used to tell me that he had plans for his future," his father said. "I am to blame for not discouraging him from working so hard and exploiting himself."
Mr Jang's anger took him to South Korea's National Assembly. In grief he fell to his knees and begged congressmen to look at the circumstances surrounding his son's death.
"It is my son who died," he said. "I am going to let the whole world know about it. I am going to get to the bottom of it."
Deok-jin's case, along with others, won the attention of President Moon Jae-in, who called for an overhaul of working conditions for delivery employees, saying they had suffered some of the worst hardships under the pandemic.
The pressure is particularly acute in South Korea, where home deliveries are expected in hours not days.
