To reduce the burden on workers delivering heavy items like bottled water and rice, the Labor Department will now allow weight limits to be specified in contracts. The practice of unilaterally imposing costs for substitute vehicles on drivers in situations where delivery is not possible will also be improved.
On August 26, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the establishment of a 'Standard Contract and Utilization Guide for Grocery Delivery Workers' in collaboration with transportation companies.
Previously, there was no separate standard contract for grocery delivery workers, leading to unclear job scopes and commission payment criteria. Concerns had been raised about contracts that could be unfairly disadvantageous to delivery workers. In response, the Labor Department gathered input from grocery delivery drivers, transportation companies, and large supermarket representatives through 13 meetings to create the standard contract.
The standard contract includes specific details about the scope of entrusted work, commission payment methods, contract duration, and termination conditions. It also addresses the prohibition of unfair trading practices, social insurance enrollment, and the protection of delivery workers' rights.
Notably, it establishes weight limits for specific items such as bottled water and rice. It also ensures that delivery drivers are not burdened with costs for substitute vehicles in cases of vehicle breakdowns or accidents that hinder normal deliveries.
The Labor Department believes that the implementation of the standard contract will help prevent disputes over contract terms and protect the basic rights of grocery delivery workers regarding social insurance and workplace safety.
With this new regulation, the number of standard contracts established by the Labor Department and related agencies has increased to 30 job categories, including delivery drivers and broadcasting workers. The standard contract and utilization guide can be accessed on the websites of the Labor Department, the Labor-Management Development Foundation, and the Worker Connection Center.
Additionally, the government is pursuing a 'Basic Labor Rights Law' and the introduction of a presumption of employment for platform workers and freelancers who are not adequately protected under existing labor laws.
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon stated, 'The establishment of this standard contract is a first step toward forming fair contractual relationships between grocery delivery workers and transportation companies. We expect that the enactment of the Basic Labor Rights Law will further expand protections such as written contracts and dispute resolution mechanisms.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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