전북 장애인콜택시, '공공성 약화'에 노동자 몸과 시간 골병…“도 단위 통합운영 시급”

- Jeonbuk Labor Policy Research Institute publishes a report on the reality of labor conditions... 'Essentially the first comprehensive analysis'

- Long working hours and resting inside vehicles account for 57.4%... "Need to establish a control tower at the provincial level"

A survey revealed that Jeonbuk region's disabled call taxi workers responsible for the mobility rights of transportation-disadvantaged individuals are experiencing severe exhaustion due to long working hours, irregular operation environments, and limitations of the private outsourcing structure. Consequently, it is pointed out that it is urgent to establish a provincial-level public integrated operation system led by Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province.

The Jeonbuk Labor Policy Research Institute, affiliated with the Jeonbuk branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, supported by the Public Transport Workers' Union Jeonbuk Branch and the Jeonbuk Equality Branch, announced the publication of a research report titled 'The Reality of Labor Conditions of Disabled Call Taxi Workers in Jeonbuk: A Comprehensive Analysis through Surveys and In-depth Interviews,' which is receiving attention as the first comprehensive study based on domestic precedent research. The survey was conducted through surveys of 187 workers from 11 cities and counties in Jeonbuk and in-depth interviews with 16 workers from 7 cities and counties.

▲ Long working hours nearing the legal limit... Workers who cannot rest
According to the survey results, the average actual working hours of disabled call taxi workers in Jeonbuk were 45.90 hours per week, with an average of 8.61 hours of overtime per week. In particular, 62.9% of valid respondents were distributed in the 48-52 hours per week range, revealing that a majority of workers are struggling with high-intensity labor close to the legal maximum working hours.

The poor resting environment is also a concern. When asked about their resting methods, 57.4% of respondents answered that they rest in their vehicles after parking. This indicates that workers are improvising meals and rest inside the vehicles during idle and waiting times while on the move.

This has led to a serious level of physical and mental exhaustion. Responses indicating experiencing physical exhaustion 'often' or 'always' accounted for 45.9%, while mental exhaustion was at 45.2%. Particularly, the subjective health status of urban workers (3.20 points on a 5-point scale) was lower than that of non-urban workers (3.72 points). It is analyzed that urban workers face the burden of 'high-density operation' due to short dispatch intervals and high operation volume, while non-urban workers face the burden of 'fragmentation of time' resulting from long-distance operations and overtime work.

▲ Malicious complaints and exposure to 'non-work-related demands' unchecked... Repeated harms of private outsourcing structure
Emotional labor and structural job insecurity are also factors that oppress workers. 21.8% of workers experienced complaints in the past year, and 8.7% reported experiencing personnel disadvantages due to complaints. The percentage of workers who experienced demands for non-work-related support was 75.5% (55.8% for 1-2 times, 19.7% for 3 times or more). However, when faced with unfair treatment, the response method with the highest rate was 'just endure and bear it' (48.7%), indicating the absence of worker protection mechanisms.

Furthermore, the city and county-level private outsourcing structures exacerbate the issues. In Gunsan, there have been controversies over the transparency of subcontractor selection processes and job insecurity, while Iksan has repeatedly raised issues such as one-year contract job insecurity and workplace harassment.

Currently, in Jeonbuk, the disabled call taxi service is managed by the Metropolitan Mobility Support Center for reception, dispatch, and control, while vehicle operation, employment, and duty management are handled by each city and county and subcontractors, creating a dual structure. As a result, while the service may appear as a single entity to users, a distorted structure has solidified where basic salaries, allowances, and welfare levels vary by region for workers. Even the wage data recording methods are not standardized, making it impossible to manage labor conditions systematically at the metropolitan level.

▲ "The cost of expanding mobility rights should not be transferred to workers' bodies and time"
The institute pointed out, "The public nature of disabled call taxis cannot be achieved by separating the mobility rights of users and the labor rights of workers," and emphasized, "Expanding mobility rights without sufficient manpower and safe dispatch standards ultimately sacrifices workers."

▲ "Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province must step up as a substantial control tower"
The Jeonbuk Labor Policy Research Institute urged Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province to take on the role of a substantial control tower in the operation of disabled call taxis through this report. It suggested that a paradigm shift to a 'provincial-level public integrated operation system' that integrates dispatch, employment, wages, and complaint standards into a single public responsibility system is necessary, rather than a mere change in private outsourcing agencies.

As concrete policy tasks, it proposed the establishment of a ▲ permanent consultative body with representatives from provinces, cities and counties, operating agencies, and workers ▲ installation of a discussion body for standard wage system ▲ recruitment of more drivers and increasing vehicles ▲ transparency of metropolitan dispatch algorithms and incentive standards ▲ standardization of call stoppage, meal, and rest standards ▲ addition of driver protection clauses in the Special Transport Vehicle Ordinance.

A research institute official stated, "The issue of disabled call taxis in Jeonbuk is not a problem of individual cities, counties, or subcontractors but a problem of a metropolitan public service that needs to be comprehensively addressed at the Jeonbuk provincial level," and expressed hope that this report will serve as a starting point for guaranteeing the mobility rights of transportation-disadvantaged individuals in Jeonbuk and improving labor conditions.

📝 Brief Summary:
A report by the Jeonbuk Labor Policy Research Institute highlights the challenges faced by disabled call taxi workers in Jeonbuk, including long working hours, poor resting conditions, and unfair treatment. The report emphasizes the need for a provincial-level public integrated operation system to address these issues.

🗣️ Natural Korean Translation:
전북 노동정책연구원이 발표한 보고서는 전북 지역의 장애인 콜택시 운전사들이 직면한 문제점을 강조하며, 장시간 노동, 불량한 휴식 환경, 불공정 대우 등을 강조했습니다. 보고서는 이러한 문제들을 해결하기 위해 전북 지역 공적 통합 운영 시스템의 필요성을 강조했습니다.

❓ Comprehension Questions:
1. What are some of the challenges faced by disabled call taxi workers in Jeonbuk according to the report?
장애인 콜택시 운전사들이 전북에서 직면하는 어떤 문제들이 보고서에 따르면 있나요?

2. Why is it urgent to establish a provincial-level public integrated operation system according to the report?
보고서에 따르면 왜 전북 지역 공적 통합 운영 시스템을 시급하게 설립해야 하는지요?

3. What are some of the concrete policy tasks proposed in the report to improve the labor conditions of disabled call taxi workers?
보고서에서 장애인 콜택시 운전사들의 노동 조건을 개선하기 위해 제시된 구체적인 정책 과제는 무엇인가요?

💡 Vocabulary Learning:
1. mobility (이동성, noun): the ability to move freely and easily
- Mobility rights are important for individuals with disabilities.
- 장애인들에게 이동성 권리는 중요합니다.

2. exhaustion (피로, noun): extreme tiredness
- Long working hours can lead to physical and mental exhaustion.
- 장시간 노동은 육체적, 정신적 피로로 이어질 수 있습니다.

3. transparency (투명성, noun): the quality of being easy to understand or see through
- Controversies arose due to the lack of transparency in the selection process.
- 선택과정의 투명성 부족으로 논란이 일어났습니다.

4. paradigm shift (패러다임 전환, noun): a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions
- The institute suggested a paradigm shift in the operation system.
- 연구소는 운영 시스템에서의 패러다임 전환을 제안했습니다.

5. comprehensive (종합적인, adjective): complete and including everything that is necessary
- The report provided a comprehensive analysis of the labor conditions.
- 보고서는 노동 조건에 대해 종합적인 분석을 제공했습니다.

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