At the Wild-Cargo Solidarity Meeting, Urging Measures for the 'Safety Freight Rate Sunset Clause'... Announcement of Intra-Party TF Formation

Criticism of "Neglect of Responsibility" Amid Ministry of Land's Absence

Park Hong-geun, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Hyun Jeong-hee, Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union, and Lee Bong-ju, Head of the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Workers' Union, are taking a commemorative photo at the Democratic Party - Cargo Workers' Livelihood Protection Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] On the third day of the general strike by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Cargo Solidarity on the 9th, the Democratic Party of Korea held a meeting with cargo workers and urged the government to prepare measures to guarantee their right to livelihood. Additionally, the party announced plans to form a body within the party to protect the livelihood of cargo workers and to promote the expansion of the scope of the Safe Freight Rate System.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader, said at the "Meeting to Protect the Livelihood of Cargo Workers" held at the National Assembly that day, "With prices rising daily, household finances are strained, and the difficulties faced by cargo workers, directly affected by record-high oil prices, are intensifying, which is very concerning."

He added, "The Safe Freight Rate System, which acts as a kind of minimum wage system for cargo workers, has played an important role in preventing overloading, long working hours, and dangerous driving, thereby contributing to public road traffic safety. However, as the system's sunset clause approaches, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which should be preparing fundamental measures, is neglecting its responsibility without any countermeasures or official stance."

Park criticized the government, saying, "At the time of implementation, the government emphasized the system's establishment in the field, but now it is ignoring it. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which promised to report the need for extension to the National Assembly one year before the sunset, has been stalling without a clear position and even did not attend today's meeting."

He continued, "In the meantime, even the Minister of Employment and Labor suddenly left the country. The response of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is truly a spectacle and regrettable," and criticized, "The government must now take active measures. Instead of endlessly repeating 'according to the law,' fundamental measures must be prepared."

He also stated, "Our Democratic Party is not free from responsibility either," and announced, "We will form a task force (TF) to protect the livelihood of cargo workers and promote the regularization and expansion of the Safe Freight Rate System."

Hyun Jeong-hee, Chairperson of the Public Transport Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is speaking at a meeting held on the 9th at the National Assembly for the protection of the livelihood rights of cargo workers organized by the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

At the meeting, Hyun Jeong-hee, chairperson of the Public Transport Workers' Union, said, "The union repeatedly demanded the abolition of the sunset clause and gradual expansion before the strike, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport used the National Assembly as an excuse, and the National Assembly used the formation of the floor as an excuse, pushing cargo workers to the edge," adding, "I am deeply distressed and hope that the government and the National Assembly will not shirk their responsibilities."

She appealed to the Democratic Party, saying, "I request that you promptly resolve the issue through a one-point floor formation," and "The Democratic Party has even greater responsibility as the previous government."

Lee Bong-ju, chairperson of the KCTU Cargo Solidarity Headquarters, said, "I am afraid that safety-related laws implemented during the Moon Jae-in administration will be 'completely dismantled' under this government," and emphasized, "I urge the Democratic Party to actively intervene and work to abolish the sunset clause."