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| Members of the union of delivery service workers under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) hold a press conference in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) office in Seoul, Tuesday, before submitting a petition against apartments and buildings, claiming that they have been treating delivery workers unfairly. / Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
Delivery workers filed a petition with the state human rights watchdog against more than 80 residential and office buildings, Tuesday, claiming that "unfair" regulations such as forcing the workers to use freight elevators have infringed on their rights.
The union of delivery service workers under the progressive Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) asked the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to investigate 83 apartments and other buildings that are mostly located in Seoul.
"Delivery workers have played an important role in enabling people to use contactless services in the COVID-19 era, but the workers' own human rights have not been guaranteed," a union official said during a press conference held in front of the commission building.
"We urge the commission to thoroughly investigate the internal regulations of those buildings, and come up with measures to protect the human rights of delivery workers."
The union went on to list 76 apartment buildings, including 32 high-priced ones in Seoul's Gangnam District and 17 in Seocho District, in addition to seven commercial buildings. The seven other buildings included the head offices of two large companies in Yongsan District and Jung District, and a shopping mall complex on Yeouido.
According to the union, some of the buildings have forced delivery workers to use freight elevators, expressing concerns that the smell of food could be displeasing to residents.
Others have been treating delivery workers like "potential criminals," forcing them to take off their helmets and even jackets when entering the buildings. When a delivery worker asked why he had to take off his jacket, he was told, "You could be hiding a weapon in your jacket," according to the union.
"What has enraged us more was the fact that these cases occurred more often at high-priced buildings. This amounts to a modern-day caste system," the union official said.
The union is planning to operate a center to help them handle more reports of unfair treatment. It will also push to have a conversation with food delivery platforms such as Baedal Minjok and Yogiyo as well as resident representatives of the buildings in question in order to address the problems directly.
The union submitted the petition a day after another union representing gig workers of food delivery apps submitted a separate petition online to the human rights watchdog against 103 apartment buildings.
Rider Union has created a list of 103 apartment buildings across the country after receiving reports from delivery workers.
Cases included luxury apartment buildings in Gangnam District forcing delivery riders to deliver food on foot, so as to avoid noise from motorcycles.
"It takes twice as long when we deliver food on foot," a Rider Union member said.
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