The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) National Courier Workers' Union (Courier Union) called for restricting deliveries from midnight to 5 a.m., saying workers' health rights should be guaranteed.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Courier Union on the 29th issued a "statement on improving nighttime delivery working conditions at Coupang," saying, "Deliveries in the ultra-late-night hours from midnight to 5 a.m. should be restricted," and "At a minimum, ensure workers' sleep time and health rights." The union also proposed, "Let urgent dawn deliveries be handled by the morning shift that starts work at 5 a.m."
This position was also said to have been proposed at the "courier social dialogue body" hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 22nd. The social dialogue body was launched last month, prompted by the death from overwork of a Coupang courier last May. It does not have legal force, but agreements reached there are highly likely to lead to government policy and institutional improvements. Concerns have been raised that dawn deliveries could be completely halted as early as next year.
There is a backlash among consumers. In particular, concerns are being raised in major mom forums populated by working moms and homemakers, and among residents of new towns nationwide such as Dongtan, Songdo, and Gimhae, South Gyeongsang, where the share of young couples in their 20s and 30s is high and offline supermarkets are scarce. The number of current dawn delivery users is estimated at about 20 million.
The retail industry, which is competing not only in dawn and same-day delivery but also in quick commerce (instant delivery) that ships orders within one to two hours, is also expressing discomfort.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions, one of the two major umbrella unions, was also reported to take the position that "it is too much for now." The view is that banning dawn deliveries could lead to job cuts and income reductions for couriers.