Kakao Mobility said on Tuesday it signed a collective agreement with the platform drivers branch of the Nationwide Solidarity Union under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. The agreement aims to improve working conditions for designated driver and quick-service workers and build a cooperative relationship.

The two sides agreed to respect basic labor rights and management rights and cooperate to protect the rights and interests of designated driver and quick-service workers and promote sustainable development of the industry. Kim Tae-hyun, executive director of Kakao Mobility's Agent Business Division, and Lee Sang-kuk, head of the Platform Drivers Labor Union, attended the signing ceremony held on Monday at Kakao Mobility's headquarters.

Under the agreement, the two sides agreed to work jointly on operating a grievance-handling system, strengthening safety and health activities, and implementing industrial accident prevention measures. They will continue consultations on overall systems and operations based on feedback from the field. They also agreed to join forces to improve working conditions and create a safe work environment.

A Kakao Mobility official said the company will use the agreement to continue structured communication with platform workers and build a virtuous cycle that leads to user safety and improved service quality through service operations based on win-win cooperation.

Kakao Mobility set up the Kakao Mobility Win-Win Foundation in 2024. It has since continued support activities for platform workers, including Road Heroes, which identifies and awards good deeds by mobility workers, free health checkups and counseling for drivers, support for liability insurance premiums for cargo in quick deliveries, and full support for designated driver insurance premiums, which it said is an industry first.

Kim said the agreement was meaningful in that it established a framework for cooperation between labor and management based on mutual trust. He said the company would continue to listen to opinions from the field and work to create a stable service environment and promote sustainable industry development based on protecting workers' rights and interests.