Page 50 - Varsity Special Issue

48 / Our Community / 49

is 1.9 times higher than the average articles regarding the working condi-
working hour of workers of other pro- tions of couriers. It was poorer than I
fessions and is much longer than the thought. So, I started taking photos of
52-hours workweek scheme that Ko- parcels I have received for the photo
rean government regulates. exhibition,” she says.
The Labour Standards Act is ap- The exhibition – ‘Parcel Service’
plied to company with more than held between September 9 and Octo-
five employees. However, delivery ber 10 this year showcased photos of
service workers are not protected by parcels, illustrations of work structure
the law, as couriers are regarded as of parcel service, screenshots of news
self-employed workers (special con- articles and piles of parcel boxes.
tract worker), but not employees of a “I wanted to give a courier a bot-
company. tle of juice in hot summer. But he was
Kim vows to fight for a better too busy that he had to leave my place
working environment for delivery ser- right away. So I took a picture of his
o
n Da
th the Liberati
With the Liberation Day on August 15, couriers took three-days holiday. . vice workers. Established in 2017, the back and showcased the photo in the
Wi
y o
lida
y
ys ho
n August 15, c
ouriers took three-da
labour union has combated unreason- exhibition,” Kim says.
most of the death cases did not have are made. In the long run, the labour able and unfair issues for 45,000 cou- “We always seek fast and conveni-
record of suffering from chronic dis- union is planning to discuss with the riers face. “Many offices where parcel ent service, but I believe that we need
eases and they worked for more than government about introducing leg- classification work is done didn’t even to think of those who provide this
14 hours a day before they died. For islation to address the issue of long have toilets in the past,” Kim says. speedy service for us all,” Kim says.
the latest death case, the concerned working hours. “Logistic companies do not recog-
delivery worker had to deliver 400
parcels a day. “We believe there are
cases that are not made public,” Kim
says.
The labour union is worried deliv-
ery workers will have heavier work-
load in the coming months because
shipping volume reaches the peak be-
tween September to November every
year.
“
It’s heart-breaking

to see young couri- A c ourier from P ost Office in Sou th Korea (Photo Courtesy o f Kim Jee- y oun)
A courier from Post Office in South Korea (Photo Courtesy of Kim Jee-youn)
ers dying from over- treated like other normal employees,” “
Kim says.
work. I’m afraid We need to think of

‘Parcel Service’ Exhibition
that I could be next Kim Jee-youn, a photographer those who provide
too. Couriers’ daily work starts with loading up a truck with parcels to be delivered. Dur- who loves taking photos of marginal- this speedy service
Cou
th parcels to be deli
-
r
vered. Du
riers
y w
ork starts wi
th l
’ dail
oading u
p a truck wi
ised people in society held an exhibi-
ing the pandemic, they deliver 300 parcels a day.
” ing the pandemic, they deli ver 300 parcels a da y . tion ‘Parcel Service’ in Jeonju, South for us all.
In a bid to prevent workers dying Couriers at the Blind Spot in nise couriers as their employees. We Korea, praising their contribution to
from overwork, the labour union is Law really hope these companies will of- the country. ”
demanding logistic companies to hire According to the labour union of fer a better working environment and “I was so surprised when my par-
supplementary workers for doing par- delivery workers, the average weekly treatment to couriers,” Kim says. cel was delivered to the doorstep at 11 “The shipping volume surges dur-
cel classification which is a long and working hour from this January to “We are still in the process of fight- p.m.,” says Kim, explaining why she ing the pandemic. I read several news
tough process before actual deliveries August of couriers is 71.3 hours. This ing for couriers to be recognised and held the exhibition.