Acceptance of the Opposition's Proposal to Extend the Safe Freight Rate System for 3 Years
Proposal for a Joint Discussion Body with Equal Participation from Ruling and Opposition Parties to Expand Covered Items
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The Democratic Party of Korea announced that it will abruptly accept the ruling party and government's proposal to extend the Safe Freight Rate System for three more years. Regarding the contentious issue of expanding the list of applicable items, they proposed forming a discussion committee with equal representation from both ruling and opposition parties.
On the morning of the 8th, Choi In-ho, the Democratic Party's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee spokesperson, along with other opposition committee members, held a press conference stating, "We accept the government and ruling party's three-year extension plan to continue the Safe Freight Rate System and minimize economic damage."
The Safe Freight Rate System was introduced as a temporary three-year measure by the Moon Jae-in administration in 2020 to guarantee truck drivers a minimum appropriate transportation fee, aiming to prevent overwork, overloading, and speeding. The sunset clause is set to expire on the 31st of this month. Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, the ruling party and government stated that while the system's sunset would be extended by three years, the expansion of applicable items would not be allowed.
Regarding the acceptance of the government and ruling party's proposal, they explained, “If the system is abolished starting next year, it will be difficult for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which effectively denies the Safe Freight Rate System, to reinstate it. If the National Assembly does not proceed with the legislative process now, the system will disappear at a critical moment.” They also urged, “Since the People Power Party has fully accepted the government and ruling party's proposal so far, they must proceed with a consensus.”
After the press conference, Representative Choi In-ho told reporters that regarding not demanding the ‘expansion of applicable items,’ “At tomorrow’s planned legislative subcommittee meeting, a bill including item expansion, whether 3+3 or 5+1, could pass. However, if the agenda adjustment committee is requested during subsequent National Assembly procedures or if it is held up in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the system will expire in about two weeks. Even if it passes the National Assembly, the government and ruling party have declared they will exercise the presidential veto.”
He emphasized, “After discussions within the Democratic Party’s Land Committee, there is a shared recognition that the system’s abolition must be prevented, and thus we have fully accepted the government and ruling party’s three-year extension plan.”
Officials from the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters and the Public Transport Workers' Union Transport Industry Council held a press conference on the 23rd in front of the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, condemning the government and ruling party's attempt to worsen the Cargo Safety Freight Rate System, expressing solidarity with the cargo general strike, and refusing alternative transportation by transport workers. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
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