[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Cargo Solidarity decided to withdraw the general strike after 16 days of strike through a vote, while the ruling party reinforced the government's principle by stating, "There will be no more lawlessness." The government holds the position that the originally proposed "three-year extension of the sunset clause for the Safe Freight Rate System" has been nullified due to this general strike, but the opposition party has urged the government to "extend the Safe Freight Rate System."
Park Jeong-ha, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, said in a statement on the 9th, "The government's consistent principle that there can be no compromise with the public's cold gaze and illegality stopped the Cargo Solidarity's strike," emphasizing, "This incident has proven that lawlessness no longer works in the Republic of Korea."
He also criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for unilaterally passing the extension of the Safe Freight Rate System in the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee that morning, echoing the government's stance that "there will be no extension of the Safe Freight Rate System." Park said, "The Democratic Party, which could not hide its laughter at the Cargo Solidarity's strike that troubled the government, unilaterally passed the extension of the sunset clause for the Safe Freight Rate System today in the Land Committee, pretending to mediate," pointing out, "(The extension of the sunset clause) was a promise that disappeared the moment the Cargo Solidarity went on strike, a promise they themselves discarded."
The Democratic Party and the Justice Party called this strike decision a "magnanimous decision" and urged the government to enter negotiations to extend the Safe Freight Rate System. Oh Young-hwan, the floor spokesperson, said in a written briefing that "the withdrawal of the Cargo Solidarity's strike is a magnanimous decision and concession made considering the public's inconvenience and the economic crisis," adding, "The government and ruling party should fulfill the promise of a three-year extension of the Safe Freight Rate System unless they intend to discard their promise to the public like a worn-out rag."
He continued, "Today, the National Assembly passed the amendment to the Freight Transport Business Act, which includes the three-year extension of the Safe Freight Rate System, at the full meeting of the Land Committee to keep the promise made to the public," and said, "The government and ruling party should not ignore the last desperate voices of freight transport workers for safe operation."
Kim Hee-seo, chief spokesperson of the Justice Party, also stated, "The government must keep its promise on the Safe Freight Rate System. It should establish a framework for dialogue and negotiation with workers and engage sincerely," criticizing, "This strike was caused by the government's incompetence and irresponsibility."
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