Photo: Coupang

 

 

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a special inspection into Coupang and its affiliates following allegations that the company attempted to conceal workplace accidents.

Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon announced the move during a meeting of agency heads on strengthening industrial safety held on March 16.

“Allegations of industrial accident cover-ups have been raised and fatal accidents have also occurred at Coupang, so we are launching a special inspection starting today,” Kim said. “The inspection will be conducted based on the results of on-site data analysis and investigations that have been underway since December last year.”

The inspection will target Coupang, its logistics subsidiary Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS), its delivery subsidiary Coupang Logistics Services (CLS), and more than 100 delivery centers, known as “camps,” across the country.

The labor ministry has already been conducting a labor inspection since January over allegations that Coupang engaged in illegal worker dispatching and maintained a blacklist of workers. Authorities decided to expand the probe by adding a special inspection to determine whether industrial accidents were concealed.

Labor groups have long alleged that Coupang and its affiliates pressured bereaved families and workers to reach settlements in order to hide workplace accidents.

There have also been claims that the company asked bereaved families or workers not to disclose the accidents publicly and required them to sign agreements stating that they would have to return the entire settlement amount if they violated the terms.

The ministry said it has been analyzing various data sources, including emergency patient transport records from the 119 rescue service, National Health Insurance improper benefit records, industrial accident claims, and accident investigation reports.

Based on the analysis, authorities plan to review whether there were cases in which workplace accidents were not reported or were intentionally concealed.

 

 

 

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