- Improved the working environment with 500 billion won in automated facilities and technology investments
- Provided stable jobs via direct employment with the pass rate of regular job applicants at 80%
On January 20, Coupang directly refuted claims that distorted the working environment of Coupang and that workload of Coupang FC employees went up due to increased volume.
Coupang said in its newsroom on the 20th that it is creating a differentiated working environment based on large-scale additional employment, investment in technology and automation facilities, and 100% direct employment in logistics operations of its FCs in Korea.
Coupang FCs hired 12,484 additional workers from January to December last year, increasing its annual workforce by 78 percent. As of the end of December 2020, 28,451 people are working. As technology investment and innovation were added to this increase in manpower, individuals’ work burden was rather decreased.
Another key to reducing work intensity is the introduction of automatic packaging system and automatic sorting equipment, expansion of conveyor belts, optimization of work routes using AI, etc. Over the past year, as much as 500 billion won was put in such technology investments alone.
Coupang also refuted some claims that the UPH is used for hiring and evaluation standards for regular employees. Coupang explained that all its short-term employees are offered to apply for regular jobs not less than three times a month, the ratio of successful regular job applicants is around 80%,and the UPH is not included in the recruiting criteria.
Unlike other warehouses that entrust their work to subcontractors, Coupang directly employs 100% of logistics workers at its FCs in Korea. It is evaluated that it is creating a new standard for the working environment of the domestic logistics industry with stable jobs and sufficient welfare benefits through direct employment. Employee benefits are also solid including four major insurances, five-day work week and 52 hours of work per week, paid weekly leave allowance and severance pay, free shuttle buses and meals.
Coupang said it will take a firm stance against such false allegations and slander for the sake of the Customers who care about Coupang and for the honor of its hard-working employees on site. It also added that Coupang will remain unwaveringly focused only on its Customers and do the utmost to create a world where the Customers ask, “How did I ever live without Coupang?”
