Claims for death benefits among delivery workers are approaching the annual total for the year 2024 nearing completion
The first half of 2025 has seen a significant increase in death benefits applications among delivery workers in South Korea, with 10 applications filed by bereaved families, seven of which have been approved. This worrying trend is a reflection of critical issues in occupational safety within the e-commerce delivery sector.
### Reasons for the Increase
The surge in fatalities among delivery workers can be attributed to several factors. Work-overload and extended hours have become common due to the expansion of delivery services by companies like CJ, which now operate seven days a week without increasing staffing or reducing workload. This leads to couriers having to manage double workloads, including morning sorting and deliveries.
Another significant factor is the exposure to extreme heat, with delivery workers often working outdoors for long hours during heatwaves with temperatures around 36-38°C. This exacerbates pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, leading to heat-related health risks and even fatalities.
Poor working conditions also contribute to the problem. Despite the expansion of delivery demands, working environments have seen little improvement, and there is growing distress over the sustainability and safety of the work setup.
### Implications for E-Commerce and Occupational Safety
The fatalities and subsequent rise in death benefit claims draw attention to systemic issues in courier labor practices, particularly the risks of excessive work without proper safety measures or rest periods during extreme weather conditions.
As more delivery workers succumb to heat-related or overwork-related health issues, there will be increased claims for death benefits and disability pensions within South Korea's national pension and insurance systems. This stresses the importance of policy reforms to better protect these workers.
The deaths have led trade unions and advocacy groups to demand improved labor policies that reduce overwork, limit delivery schedules, and enhance working conditions, such as enforced rest breaks and better health monitoring. These changes are vital to ensuring sustainability as e-commerce continues growing.
If the workload and safety conditions remain unaddressed, courier companies might face workforce shortages due to illness, death, and burnout, potentially disrupting delivery networks and e-commerce supply chains.
### Overall Context
These developments reflect a broader global challenge in balancing rapid e-commerce growth with worker health and safety protections. South Korea’s delivery sector, characterised by high demand and intense labour, is a critical frontline where these issues converge. Legislative and corporate responsibility to improve occupational health standards, regulate working hours, and provide adequate rest and medical care will be essential to preventing further tragic outcomes and ensuring a stable delivery workforce in the future.
References: [1] Rep. Kim suggests reviewing the current system of industrial safety to see if it provides sufficient protection for those working in the field of e-commerce. [4] KWCWS data released in September showed that 69.7 percent of package delivery workers' deaths from 2020 to 2022 were due to overwork.
- To address the rising number of death benefits applications among delivery workers in South Korea, it's crucial to focus on workplace-wellness initiatives in the e-commerce sector, particularly by implementing science-backed measures to reduce overwork, improve working conditions, and ensure health-and-wellness in the face of extreme weather conditions.
- As the e-commerce industry continues to grow, it's essential for companies like CJ to prioritize fitness-and-exercise programs for their delivery workers, particularly in reducing workload and ensuring regular breaks, to mitigate health risks and prevent further fatalities, ultimately safeguarding the sustainability of their delivery workforce.
