Government Raises Cargo Solidarity Strike Crisis Alert to Highest Level 'Serious'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] As the government faces the fifth day of the Cargo Solidarity Union's general strike and logistics damage intensifies, it has raised the crisis alert level to the highest stage, "Severe."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced on the 28th that, as the Cargo Solidarity Union's collective refusal to transport continues and the damage situation is becoming increasingly serious, it will raise the crisis alert level for the land freight transport sector from "Caution" to the highest level, "Severe," as of 9 a.m. that day, according to the "Land Freight Transport Crisis Response Manual."

Previously, MOLIT had raised the crisis alert level from "Interest" to "Attention" on the 15th, immediately after the Cargo Solidarity Union declared the collective refusal to transport, and from "Attention" to "Caution" on the 23rd, the day before the collective refusal began.

This escalation of the crisis alert level reflects considerations such as the nationwide spread of the transport refusal, ongoing transport disruptions at major logistics facilities including ports, and difficulties in handling import and export cargo.

With the issuance of the "Severe" level, the government's response system will be strengthened to a central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters at the pan-government level. Accordingly, a comprehensive pan-government emergency plan will be implemented in cooperation with related agencies including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The government plans to hold a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting chaired by the Minister of the Interior and Safety at 10 a.m. that day to discuss response measures by each ministry.