KCCI: "Regret Over Safety Freight Rate Sunset Not Being Honored... Full Reconsideration Needed in National Assembly"

Announcement on the 15th... "Withdrawal of strike is fortunate"

"Sunset clause is a matter for the National Assembly, not the government
Full review and improvement plan to be prepared by the National Assembly"

On the afternoon of the 13th, as cement shipments were halted due to a strike by the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, more ready-mix concrete plants have been stopping operations. A ready-mix concrete truck is parked at a ready-mix concrete company in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) stated on the 15th that while it is fortunate that the strike by the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has come to an end, it "expresses regret" that the sunset of the Safe Freight Rate System, which was the justification for the general strike, was not enforced as scheduled.

In a statement released that day, KCCI said, "We consider it fortunate that the collective transport refusal by the Cargo Solidarity, which caused a massive loss of over 2 trillion won to the national economy, was withdrawn before it spread to greater damage across the industry."

However, it pointed out limitations in negotiations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The existing agreements, including the sunset of the Safe Freight Rate System, were not properly upheld due to pressure from the labor side.

KCCI stated, "We regret that the existing agreement to sunset the Safe Freight Rate System at the end of the year was not honored, and that the economic sector's position on operational issues raised so far was not reflected."

The Safe Freight Rate System was introduced with the purpose of guaranteeing appropriate wages for cargo drivers to prevent overwork, overloading, and speeding. It was a three-year sunset system, scheduled to be abolished at the end of the year.

KCCI argued, "Since the sunset of the Safe Freight Rate System is a matter for the National Assembly to decide, not the government, a comprehensive review and improvement plan regarding the continuation of the system, which imposes unilateral burdens on cargo owners, should be prepared during the upcoming National Assembly discussions."