[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 7th, "Whether it is unfair labor practices by employers or illegal acts by workers, I have continuously declared that we will respond according to the law and principles starting from election campaigns."
On his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office building in the morning, President Yoon responded this way to reporters' remarks that "there are concerns about a logistics crisis due to the Cargo Solidarity's general strike."
With the Cargo Solidarity of the Public Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) launching an indefinite general strike from midnight that day, President Yoon reaffirmed a strict response policy based on a zero-tolerance principle toward illegal acts.
The Cargo Solidarity is demanding the withdrawal of the abolition of the Safe Freight Rate system, which was introduced as a sunset clause along with the amendment of the Freight Vehicle Transportation Business Act in 2018. The Safe Freight Rate system was established to guarantee appropriate wages for cargo drivers to prevent overwork, overloading, and speeding.
The system imposes fines on consignors who pay freight rates lower than the Safe Freight Rate, which is the minimum rate necessary to ensure traffic safety. It was implemented for three years from 2020 to 2022 and is scheduled to be abolished at the end of this year.
The Cargo Solidarity is demanding the expansion of the system, arguing that it is difficult to maintain livelihoods without the Safe Freight Rate system amid soaring oil prices.
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