Administrative Measures and Criminal Charges for Non-Returnees
Container Import and Export Volume at Busan Port Rises to 114% for Recovery
96 Gas Stations Facing Inventory Shortages
On the 6th, workers belonging to the Cargo Solidarity Incheon Regional Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions continued their strike in front of the Hyundai Oilbank Seoul Office in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] As the Cargo Solidarity collective transport refusal enters its 13th day, it has been confirmed that seven cement transport companies and 43 truck owners who received work commencement orders have resumed transportation.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 6th that it investigated the day before whether seven transport companies and 45 truck owners who received work commencement orders had resumed transportation.
As a result of the investigation, it was confirmed that seven transport companies and 43 truck owners resumed work. Two people were found to be unable to return to work immediately due to testing positive for COVID-19 or having sick family members.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport began a second on-site investigation from the day before to verify whether the drivers who received work commencement orders actually returned. The on-site investigation targets 33 transport companies and 791 truck owners who were issued work commencement orders. During the second investigation, the ministry additionally issued work commencement orders to 12 truck owners. For vehicles that received investigation commencement notices last week due to illegal parking near cement factories, work commencement orders are being delivered via mail and text messages.
The ministry plans to immediately file criminal charges and request administrative sanctions from local governments against transport companies or truck owners who have not returned. Failure to comply with the work commencement order may result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. For transport companies, failure to comply with the first work commencement order may result in suspension of operation of violating vehicles for up to 30 days, and failure to comply a second time may lead to license cancellation. Truck owners face qualification suspension upon first non-compliance and qualification cancellation upon second non-compliance.
As the strike prolongs, the number of participants has also decreased to about half. As of the 5th, the number of participants in collective transport refusal-related rallies was 5,300, down to 55% compared to the departure ceremony (9,600). The National Police Agency expected about 5,300 people to hold dispersed rallies or be on standby at over 170 locations in 17 regions on the same day.
As of 10 a.m. that day, the nighttime container throughput at 12 major ports nationwide rose to 114% compared to normal times. The nighttime container throughput at Busan Port, which has the largest throughput volume, increased to 131% compared to normal. The nighttime throughput at Incheon Port, the second largest, recovered to 121% (6,184 TEU) compared to normal (5,103 TEU).
However, Gwangyang Port has had almost no throughput since the 25th of last month. The government has added eight additional public and military-commissioned container trucks from the 5th and arranged for police cars to escort the deployed container trucks. On the same day, 12 more public container trucks were additionally deployed.
In the petroleum sector, public inconvenience continues as gas stations run out of fuel one after another. As of the 5th, 96 gas stations registered as having insufficient stock include 56 in the metropolitan area and 40 in other regions. The government is urgently deploying alternative tank lorries such as military vehicles.
Among petrochemical volumes, export shipments, which had been suspended, resumed and recorded about 5% of normal levels, while domestic shipments increased to 50-90% of normal levels.
Steel shipments reached 53% of normal levels the day before, and cement transportation recovered to 84% with 157,000 tons transported the previous day. Cement Bulk Trailer (BCT) transportation also rose to 83%.
Ready-mixed concrete production was 244,000 cubic meters the day before, recording 49% compared to the average (503,000 cubic meters). Since the collective transport refusal, a total of 115 construction companies have reported damages to construction projects, and 785 out of 1,349 construction sites (58%) have been identified as halted.
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