Taxi Driver Protests for 100 Days Atop Tower, Demanding Fair Labor Practices

Taxi driver Ko Young-ki has entered his 100th day of a high-altitude protest atop a communication tower in Incheon, South Korea, demanding fair labor practices and improved safety in the taxi industry. His solitary stand began in March, initially targeting proposed amendments to the Taxi Development Act that he argued would undermine worker protections. Despite the act's eventual promulgation with concessions, Ko has remained on the tower, shifting his focus to a new demand: the revision of the Labor Standards Act's enforcement decree.

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Taxi drivers must be healthy for citizens to be safe. The taxi sector accounts for half of all business vehicle traffic accidents and has the second-highest fatality rate.

Ko's current grievance centers on the 'deemed working hours system,' which allows employers and employees to agree on a presumed number of working hours. He argues that many taxi companies exploit this system by setting these deemed hours significantly lower than the actual time drivers spend working. This practice, Ko contends, results in drivers receiving wages equivalent to only a fraction of their real working hours, often falling below the minimum wage and trapping them in a cycle of exploitation and excessive work.

The consequences of this alleged wage theft and forced overwork are dire, according to the union. Drivers are compelled to work excessively long hours, leading to chronic fatigue and dangerous driving practices. The article highlights that the taxi sector accounts for a substantial portion of commercial vehicle accidents, with a high rate of fatalities, underscoring the urgency of Ko's demands for improved safety standards.

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I've visited dozens of high-altitude protest sites, but this is the first time I've seen such a narrow and poor environment.

The union is advocating for the exclusion of taxi drivers from the deemed working hours system, citing the availability of precise data through tachographs and ride-hailing apps that can accurately record working hours. Ko's protest, despite the physically demanding and precarious conditions, living in a cramped space of less than one square meter, continues with the support of various civic groups. A recent event celebrating his 100th day on the tower saw participants offering solidarity, illuminating the tower with their phone lights in a symbolic call for help.

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We are strong. We will surely win.