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| Coupang’s fulfilment center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province / Yonhap |
Ecommerce giant Coupang saw sales surge 71 percent year-on-year to 5 trillion won ($4.27 billion) in the second quarter. However, it also saw an increase in the number of industrial accidents, with the latest one being a massive fire at its warehouse in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, July 19.
According to Ministry of Employment and Labor data compiled and released by Rep. Lee Tahney of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 1,235 industrial accidents were reported on Coupang premises so far this year.
The figure is just slightly lower than the combined number of accidents over the past four years ― 141 in 2017, 193 in 2018, 334 in 2019 and 758 in 2020.
At this rate of increase, the number of cases for all of 2021 is expected to surpass 2,000.
By type, accidents involving delivery drivers are especially rising sharply ― the figure stood at just 193 in 2018 but jumped to 758 in 2020.
This could be due to the huge increase in demand for online orders amid a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a limited number of delivery drivers and workers at the company’s fulfilment centers, but the number of online orders has increased drastically. Workers allege that they have been made to work faster and harder.
Coupang said it is well-aware of this and is striving to provide the safest possible working environment for its employees.
“Unlike other logistic firms, Coupang employs full-time workers 100 percent. Industrial accidents befalling our workers may seem comparatively high because our system encourages them to take advantage of it,” a company official said.
Coupang sees sales growth, but industrial accidents surge
Source: Buhay Kapa PH
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