Economy Sector: "Cargo Solidarity Work Commencement Order Inevitable... Should Expand Beyond Cement Sector" (Comprehensive)

Economic Organizations Call Government's Work Commencement Order an "Unavoidable Measure"
Urge Dialogue and Compromise

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] Regarding the government's issuance of a work commencement order in response to the Cargo Solidarity's general strike, the business community is emphasizing that it was an inevitable measure to prevent greater damage and is voicing calls for actively considering the expansion of the work commencement order.

On the 29th, the Korea Employers Federation stated in a press release, "We are relieved that the government has issued a work commencement order in the cement sector to prevent a serious crisis in the national economy," and emphasized, "since other sectors such as steel, automobiles, refining, and chemicals?which are the foundation of our industry and exports and directly linked to citizens' lives?are also reaching their limits, the expansion of the work commencement order should be actively considered before the damage worsens."

The Federation urged, "Cargo Solidarity should immediately stop their collective refusal to transport, which lacks justification and legitimacy, return to work, and participate in normalizing logistics and overcoming the economic crisis," and added, "We hope the government will strictly respond according to law and principles to Cargo Solidarity's transport obstruction and illegal acts occurring at industrial sites, thereby establishing the rule of law in the industrial field."

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry also called the measure unavoidable due to industrial site shutdowns and urged the preparation of reasonable alternatives. The Chamber stated, "At a time when all economic actors should unite, the prolonged collective transport refusal by Cargo Solidarity is spreading damage to the national economy and increasing inconvenience to citizens' lives," and added, "Although efforts were made to resolve the issue through dialogue and compromise, given the increasing industrial damage such as site shutdowns, the work commencement order in the cement sector is considered an unavoidable measure."

It further added, "We hope that illegal acts by Cargo Solidarity will be firmly dealt with according to law and principles and that reasonable alternatives will be prepared with stakeholders."

The Federation of Korean Industries, through a statement signed by Economic Headquarters Director Choo Kwang-ho, said, "Recently, our economy is facing difficulties due to high inflation, high interest rates, and high exchange rates, and is in crisis as exports?the backbone of the economy?are shaken by global economic contraction and supply chain instability," and pointed out, "In this situation, the collective transport refusal, which holds logistics?the lifeline of the national economy?hostage, only deepens the economic crisis and exacerbates difficulties in citizens' lives."

It continued, "The government's issuance of the work commencement order is an inevitable measure to respond to this crisis," and explained, "The core demand of Cargo Solidarity, the Safe Freight Rate System, is a system rarely found overseas and has not proven its effectiveness, yet the government has announced it will extend the system for three years in response to Cargo Solidarity's demands. In this context, continuing the collective transport refusal lacks justification."

Furthermore, it urged, "Now is the time for all economic actors to unite to overcome the crisis," and appealed, "Cargo Solidarity should stop the collective transport refusal immediately and engage in reasonable dialogue and compromise."

The Korea International Trade Association also welcomed "the work commencement order issued to those refusing transport in the cement sector to minimize damage to the national economy and prevent burdens on citizens," and requested, "Due to the expanding damage in industrial sites caused by Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal and illegal actions, the government should actively consider issuing work commencement orders for other industries as well." It added, "We urge the government to firmly respond to illegal actions according to law and principles to prevent further damage at industrial sites."

As Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal continues into its sixth day, the government issued a work commencement order for cement transport vehicles on this day. President Yoon Suk-yeol said regarding the Cargo Solidarity general strike, "The government today inevitably issues a work commencement order for those refusing transport in the cement sector to prevent a more serious crisis that would affect our people's livelihoods and the national economy," adding, "Logistics for cement, steel, and other sectors have been halted, causing construction and production sites nationwide to stop, putting our industrial foundation at risk of devastation and threatening citizens' daily lives."