Coupang Delivery Workers Protest 'Fresh Bag' Burden: "Like Being Forced to Wash Dishes"

Coupang delivery workers have raised objections, claiming that the collection of 'Fresh Bags' constitutes additional labor not included in their contracts.

The Fresh Bag is a thermal bag used for 'Rocket Fresh,' Coupang's grocery delivery service.

The Korea Delivery Workers' Union and other organizations announced today that they are filing a complaint with the Korea Fair Trade Commission against Coupang CLS and Haha Logistics, a local agency in Chuncheon, for alleged abuse of trading power.

The complaint states that when Coupang introduced the Rocket Fresh service to the Chuncheon area this past March, it unilaterally demanded that union members handle tasks related to the Fresh Bags without prior agreement. When the workers refused, Haha Logistics reportedly notified them of contract termination.

According to the union, delivery workers are required to collect and disassemble 100 to 200 Fresh Bags per day.

Furthermore, they must clean the bags, fold them, load them, and transport them to locations designated by Coupang.

The union argued, "This is equivalent to making a delivery driver wash dishes," adding, "There is no separate fee item for the collection and return of Fresh Bags in the consignment contract."

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy emphasized, "The core issue is the forced imposition of tasks outside the contract," stating, "We have filed this complaint regarding the act of forcing workers to perform tasks not in their contracts without sufficient compensation, and retaliating when they refused."

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Seo Byeong-wook | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.