Employment Minister: "Economic Burden from Hwamyun Solidarity Strike... Strict Response to Illegal Acts"

Ministry of Employment to Hold 'Key Agency Heads Meeting on Labor Trends Check' on the 10th
Minister Lee Jeong-sik: "Cargo Solidarity is Burdening the Economy with Strikes"

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik speaking
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Shin Hyun-woo, trainee reporter = On the morning of the 3rd, Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik visited Crown Confectionery in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and is speaking at the on-site meeting for workplaces operating the wage peak system. 2022.6.3
nowwego@yna.co.kr
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＜Copyright(c) Yonhap News Agency, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited＞

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, pointed out that the domestic economy is being burdened due to the Cargo Solidarity strike. He also announced a policy to strictly respond to illegal activities occurring in labor-management conflicts.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it held a 'Major Agency Heads Meeting to Review Labor Trends' at 10 a.m. on the 10th. The meeting was attended by Minister Lee, six regional labor office chiefs, and four major branch chiefs. The meeting was held to review unstable factors in labor-management relations and prepare countermeasures, considering the Cargo Solidarity's collective refusal to transport and future labor movement schedules.

At the meeting, Minister Lee expressed concerns about the Cargo Solidarity strike. He said, "Since the 7th, the Cargo Solidarity has been continuing collective refusal to transport, demanding the abolition of the sunset clause of the Safe Freight Rate System, thereby burdening our economy." He added, "The minimum wage decision and the ruling on the wage peak system are factors causing instability in labor-management relations. The labor sector has announced struggles such as the nationwide workers' rally and the Metal Workers' Union general strike next month, so labor-management relations will not be easy going forward."

Cargo Solidarity Strike Deepens Cement Logistics Disruption
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Jong-chan = On the second day of the strike by the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on the 8th, logistics disruptions are intensifying across various industries. In particular, the cement industry, where the Cargo Solidarity strike is concentrated, is experiencing daily sales losses exceeding 10 billion won due to shipment halts, and some ready-mixed concrete plants have ceased operations as cement supply has been cut off. The photo shows a cement factory in Seoul on the 9th. 2022.6.9
Photo by Han Jong-chan
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Minister Lee urged regional labor office chiefs to respond strictly based on a zero-tolerance principle. He said, "Labor-management conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and compromise based on the principle of autonomy, but illegal acts must be dealt with strictly," and added, "Please actively guide labor and management to smoothly resolve current issues such as collective bargaining, considering economic and social conditions."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to strengthen responses to labor-management conflicts by establishing negotiation support teams in each regional office. This is a plan to expand and reorganize the situation rooms currently operating in regional offices. Minister Lee said, "The Cargo Solidarity's refusal to transport mainly concerns policy issues such as the abolition of the sunset clause of the Safe Freight Rate System, so it differs from ordinary labor-management relations," and added, "Please promptly report situations such as production and logistics disruptions to headquarters to support a government-wide response."