[비즈한국] CJ Logistics000120 will begin 7-day-a-week delivery starting next year. At the same time, a 5-day workweek system for delivery drivers is also set to be introduced. As a 5-day workweek has long been a demand of delivery drivers, there is high anticipation that their right to rest will be guaranteed starting next year. On the other hand, there are also significant concerns regarding a potential decrease in income.
CJ Logistics Takes on Coupang: 7-Day Delivery and a 5-Day Workweek for Drivers
It appears CJ Logistics is gearing up for a full-scale competition with Coupang. On August 20, CJ Logistics announced that it would begin 7-day-a-week delivery starting early next year. This involves expanding the current delivery schedule—which runs from Monday to Saturday—into an "everyday delivery" system that includes Sundays and public holidays. Currently, Coupang is the only company in the logistics industry operating a 7-day delivery system.
Rumors about the introduction of 7-day delivery began circulating among CJ Logistics drivers several months ago. Stories spread through some agency branches that CJ Logistics was testing a 7-day delivery system and that a delivery schedule without holidays would be introduced next year.
Industry experts analyze that CJ Logistics has begun a full-scale rivalry with Coupang. Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University, said, "It looks like CJ Logistics has started to keep Coupang in check. As consumer preference for fast delivery systems grows, logistics companies will inevitably have to consider faster delivery methods," adding, "Now that CJ Logistics is joining Coupang in providing 7-day delivery, it is expected that other companies will follow suit."
As CJ Logistics declares the introduction of 7-day delivery, the primary focus is on the working environment of the drivers. Because there were widespread expectations that a 7-day delivery system would worsen working conditions, CJ Logistics promised to introduce a 5-day workweek to appease the drivers. Currently, CJ Logistics drivers work six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, but this will be reduced to five days once the 7-day delivery system is implemented next year.
CJ Logistics stated, "We will expand substantial rest periods while complying with the 60-hour workweek guideline based on social consensus." In relation to this, on August 19, CJ Logistics held a "Joint Declaration for Logistics Service Innovation" with the CJ Logistics Delivery Agency Association and signed a labor-management agreement with the Korea Courier Union.
'Weekend Off', 'Income Decrease': Reasons for Growing Concern Among Drivers
Within the logistics industry, there is an expectation that the introduction of a 5-day workweek will help improve drivers' working conditions by increasing their days off. An official from the Korea Courier Union stated, "A 5-day workweek for delivery drivers has been a long-standing demand of the union," adding, "As CJ Logistics has agreed with the principles regarding improving the working environment, we have decided to discuss concrete measures through future negotiations." They further explained, "The current 52 days off per year will increase to 104 days. We believe that since a 5-day workweek reduces working hours, there will be progress in areas such as the health of the drivers."
Conversely, there are also many concerns. Mr. Kim, who has worked as a CJ Logistics delivery driver in Seoul for five years, said, "There is a deep concern about whether weekend rest can truly be guaranteed. Currently, Sunday rest is guaranteed, but if we operate a 7-day delivery system like Coupang, wouldn't it be difficult to guarantee time off on weekends?" He added, "CJ Logistics drivers have always followed a pattern of not working on Sundays. Most prefer not to work on weekends. Many are reluctant to see the introduction of a 5-day workweek if it means working weekends and having days off during the week."
Many drivers are also worried about a decrease in their income. CJ Logistics drivers are paid based on commissions for the volume of packages they deliver, and as predictions emerge that weekend delivery volumes will be low, concerns about income loss are mounting.
One delivery driver explained, "Coupang processes its own volume within its platform, so there is no reason for volume to decrease just because it's the weekend. However, CJ Logistics has a system where it collects and delivers items gathered by collection agencies." They added, "To secure weekend volume, the collection agencies that currently don't work on weekends, as well as the shopping malls that send products to these agencies, would all have to work on weekends as well. Won't weekend volume inevitably be lower than on weekdays?"
Currently, CJ Logistics is funneling large corporate client volume into its "Sunday One" service. "Sunday One" is handled by a separate "One" dedicated team, apart from regular CJ Logistics delivery drivers. One delivery driver noted, "Volume from Naver, Olive Young, CJ OnStyle, Yes24, etc., is all being delivered on Sundays by the separate dedicated 'One' team. The volume that regular drivers will deliver on Sundays will consist of items from individual shopping malls, excluding these large corporate clients," adding, "It is difficult for weekend delivery volume to increase significantly, so concerns about income loss are inevitable."
CJ Logistics stated that they would take measures to ensure no decrease in income even after introducing the 5-day workweek for drivers. However, no specific plan has been finalized. A CJ Logistics official said, "At this stage, only the introduction of 7-day delivery and the 5-day workweek for drivers has been decided; nothing concrete has been determined regarding how Sunday delivery will be operated. It is still unknown how 'Sunday One' will be operated next year," adding, "We plan to consult with the courier union, the agency association, etc., on how to operate the 5-day workweek for drivers. We expect a rough operational plan to be ready by October."