Won Hee-ryong: "Work Commencement Orders to Be Executed Without Delay Upon Cabinet Meeting Resolution"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] On the 28th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "If the work commencement order is approved at the Cabinet meeting, it will be executed without delay." This remark came immediately after the first negotiation between the government and the Cargo Solidarity, held five days into the general strike, ended in failure.

On the 28th, Minister Won met with reporters at the Government Complex Sejong after the negotiation breakdown and said, "We have meticulously prepared strict criteria regarding the conditions for issuing the work commencement order and considerations for its actual execution."

He added, "Tomorrow, the Cabinet meeting will review whether the conditions for issuance are met, deliberate on the target and scope, and discuss procedural standards for issuing individual orders."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Cargo Solidarity held their first negotiation since the strike in the afternoon but ended confirming only their differences.

Minister Won said, "The agenda is already prepared," and added, "We have minimized the time gap so that if the Cabinet meeting approves quickly, individual orders can begin within a few hours." He further explained, "If approved as originally planned, the authority to conduct investigations will also be activated immediately, and based on the Cabinet's resolution, the preliminary procedures for issuing the order will proceed."

He stated, "The specific order does not take effect upon the Cabinet's resolution alone. After procedures, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport must deliver the order verbally or in writing to specific operators or workers, whether individuals or individual corporations, for it to take effect."

He continued, "If delivered by mail or communication, the recipient's consent is required. Delivery to a third party is also possible; if delivered to employers or cohabiting family members, it takes effect immediately," adding, "We have already identified a significant portion of contact information and addresses and are still in the process of doing so."

Regarding concerns that the work commencement order might worsen the situation, Minister Won emphasized, "Everyone is equal before the law," and stressed, "As the minister in charge, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will clearly demonstrate that the (Yoon Seok-yeol) government is different by not allowing illegal acts and political calculations to join hands and normalize extralegal practices."