SEOUL – A civic organization has lodged a formal complaint against Coupang, a major South Korean retail company, alleging the maintenance of a blacklist to prevent former employees from being rehired. The complaint, filed with Seoul's regional labor office, targets six officials from Coupang and its affiliate, Coupang Fulfillment Service (CFS), including the CEO, accusing them of infringing the Labor Standards Act. The group, identifying itself as the task force for Coupang workers' health, labor, and human rights, includes members of Coupang’s labor union and is seeking a comprehensive investigation and severe penalties.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the alleged blacklist has been utilized within Coupang and its subsidiaries to obstruct individuals' employment prospects. This claim gains substance from the testimony of one individual who asserts that his application to Coupang was declined multiple times due to this covert practice. Last month, the group unveiled a document purportedly listing 16,450 former warehouse employees barred from reemployment, detailing personal data and reasons for their previous departure. Further actions by the civic group include a formal police complaint and a request for special supervision by the labor ministry to uncover any additional violations of labor laws.