Government Increases Pressure... Work Commencement Orders Delivered to 350 Cargo Truck Drivers

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The government is increasing pressure by delivering orders to 350 individual truck owners to enforce the work commencement order issued in the cement sector.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 30th, immediately after the work commencement order was issued the previous day, the government conducted on-site investigations targeting cement transportation companies and delivered orders to 350 truck drivers. This accounts for 14% of the approximately 2,500 cement sector truck drivers subject to the work commencement order. The government believes they have collectively refused transportation.

Right after the work commencement order was deliberated and approved at the Cabinet meeting the previous day, a 764-member investigation team composed of officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, local government officials, and police began on-site investigations of 201 cement transportation companies and about 2,500 transportation workers nationwide. The purpose was to confirm violations of the obligation to return to work and to identify personal information such as phone numbers and addresses of the truck owners subject to the work commencement order.

Investigations have been completed for 69 of the 201 cement transportation companies, revealing that 15 companies refused transportation as companies, and truck owners refused transportation at 19 locations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to continue on-site investigations of transportation companies, so the number of order recipients is expected to increase.

However, delivering orders to cement companies does not activate their effect. The orders must be delivered to individual truck owners. If truck owners repeatedly refuse to accept the orders, the Ministry plans to deliver the orders through public notices on websites and official gazettes.

If the transportation work is not resumed by 24:00 the day after receiving the order, the individual will be subject to punishment. Failure to comply with the work commencement order without justifiable reason may result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW. Upon the first refusal, a suspension of operation for up to 30 days will be imposed, and upon the second refusal, the freight transportation qualification will be revoked, prohibiting operation of the truck.

As of 10 a.m. on the same day, the government confirmed that about 7,000 members of the Cargo Solidarity Union (35% of the total) were holding rallies at 160 locations nationwide.