The Public Transport Union announced on the 30th that a court ruling recognizing a delivery rider working through a platform company as a worker under the Labor Standards Act has been finalized.

On the 3rd, the 38-1 Civil Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Ji-young, Hwang Sung-mi, and Park Sung-yoon) ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff in an appeal filed by union member A of the Riders Union against a delivery agency platform company, seeking to invalidate a dismissal and claim unpaid wages.

This ruling overturned the first-instance decision, which had denied A's status as a worker, marking the first time a court recognized the labor rights of a delivery rider.

As the defendant did not submit an appeal by the 28th, the final deadline for appeal, the ruling was finalized yesterday.

In a statement released today, the Public Transport Union emphasized, "Today marks a historic day as it has been finally confirmed that delivery riders are legal workers," adding, "Now it is time for the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Baedal Minjok, and Coupang Eats to come up with countermeasures."

The union further argued, "Since the grounds for rejecting the minimum wage for piece-rate workers have clearly disappeared, the Minimum Wage Commission must be urged to deliberate on the matter again."

Piece-rate workers receive compensation based on their work performance or volume under a contract, and this category includes special-type and platform workers.

The union urged, "We must stop pursuing the 'Basic Act for Working People' and present plans to expand the application of labor laws—including a worker presumption system, minimum wage, industrial safety, and social insurance," demanding that "Baemin and Coupang immediately hire subcontractors' riders as statutory workers."

(Photo: Yonhap News)