Korea improves work safety for street cleaners
A Korean street cleaner, left, stays outside while the truck moves, while the workers overseas are seated in the truck. The government announced measures to enhance safety for the cleaners, Tuesday./Courtesy of Ministry of Environment
By Kim Se-jeong
The government dedicated itself to improving working conditions for 34,000 sanitation workers in the country, Tuesday.
Street cleaners and garbage collectors are often overworked and at risk of accidents because their work is done late at night or early in the morning.
According to statistics, between January 2015 and June 2017, 15 such workers were killed and 1,456 were injured while on duty. In November, Gwangju local government lost two of its employees in accidents with moving vehicles ― one to a garbage truck and one to a car ― while at work.
“Sanitation workers are the most unrecognized members of society but their work is critical,” said Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung, who announced new safety measures Tuesday. “They deserve better conditions and the government is obliged to deliver them.”
Their working conditions have been covered by domestic news outlets, but nothing has been done until recently.
The most sweeping changes that are expected with the new measures will be rules requiring protective gear for cleaners and limiting the loads garbage trucks can carry.
The government said it will also push to change their working hours so they can work during daylight. But, acknowledging challenges associated with the work, the ministry only said it will consult with local governments and transit authorities.
It will also push to develop new garbage trucks better suited to Korean road conditions. Currently, all the trucks are imported and the cleaners complain about the dangers and inconvenience they pose.
One danger with imported trucks is that the garbage collectors tend to hang onto the outside of the truck instead of getting inside truck, as Korean cities are more crowded than other countries and the distance between pickups is short. The ministry said the new model
development project will reflect these problems.
The government said it will also replace old trucks with new ones. Each truck is designed to be in use for six years but they’re often used for longer periods because of budget constraints.
It also pledged to improve job security for sanitation workers. Currently, local governments directly employ only 19,000 ― out of 34,000 ― with full employment benefits.
The rest, however, are from contracted companies without benefits.
To raise funds to implement the measures, the government said it will consider charging more for trash bags that people buy at stores, which could draw a backfire from citizens.
Anticipation is high that these measures will be implemented. Lawmakers are also serious about the issue.
On Jan. 14, Rep. Ha Tae-kyung from the minor opposition Bareun Party proposed a legislative revision to better protect sanitation workers’ rights.