Cleaning workers for a sanitation subcontractor in Seoul's Gangdong-gu are experiencing inappropriate scheduling that contradicts their employment contracts, which specify working hours from 6 AM to 3 PM. However, many workers have reported being required to arrive for their shifts around 1 or 2 AM. 26-year-old Park Kwang-ryeol expressed surprise upon learning about this change just before his first shift but initially accepted it as part of the learning process. His experience reflects broader concerns regarding labor rights, particularly the implications of night work without adequate compensation.

The issue has gained attention following President Lee Jae-myung's directive for a comprehensive investigation into wage violations for public sanitation workers. Cleaning staff, including Park and 59-year-old Cha A-moo, report routinely starting their shifts at around 2 AM, often without receiving any additional pay for night work, which is mandated by labor law. The discrepancy between their contracts and actual work hours has raised alarms among labor rights advocates, prompting calls for local governments to take action to remedy these workers' circumstances, which have long been overlooked.

Moreover, it has been noted that insufficient staffing from the subcontracting company has led to the necessity for such early shifts. Given the higher risks associated with night work—particularly concerning the safety of sanitation workers—the government introduced guidelines in 2019 emphasizing daytime work for public sanitation employees. The dangerous working conditions and the lack of compliance with both safety and wage provisions underline an urgent need for intervention and reform within the local labor environment, specifically in the context of publicly contracted service sectors.