Coupang Logistics Services (CLS) said on the 19th that it will grant time off to about 18,000 delivery drivers over three days, covering the early voting days and the main voting day for the nationwide local elections.
CLS said it began sending official letters to contracted delivery partners on the 15th of last month, requesting schedule adjustments so they can take time off to vote on the early voting days, the 29th-30th, and on the 3rd of next month. More than 6,000 people applied for time off each day over the three voting days, bringing the total to over 18,000 taking leave.
CLS plans to further encourage more delivery drivers to use time off by requesting additional cooperation from contracted local branches before the local elections. Depending on each driver's schedule, they can take one day or more off, and two days or more is also possible.
A CLS official said, "By introducing the industry's first supporter (backup driver) system, we provide a 'seven-day-a-week delivery service' while allowing delivery drivers to work 'five days a week or fewer,' and we will ensure participation in voting through a campaign encouraging time off during the local election period."
CLS operates a system that allows outsourcing only if backup drivers are secured from the contract stage with delivery partners. The company said it has established the backup driver system through support from CLS's in-house delivery workforce (Coupang Friends) and other delivery assistance.