Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is delivering a welcoming speech at the inauguration ceremony and the 1st meeting of the Overseas Construction Contract Support Group held on the 28th at the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Noh Kyung-jo] Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, emphasized that the cargo truck safety freight system should be allowed to expire as scheduled on the 31st of this month and then re-legislated with supplementary measures.
On the morning of the 28th, after the launch ceremony of the Overseas Construction Contract Support Group at the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, Minister Won told reporters, "Simply extending the safety freight system is not acceptable," adding, "It should first expire, and then a system that properly compensates vulnerable truck owners for costs must be created."
He also pointed out, "Isn't the cargo truck license plate the ultimate form of unearned income promoted by the state?" and said, "The situation where Democratic Labor Union executives own 100 plates each and conduct business must end." He added that measures should be taken to prevent undercutting of transportation rates and deficit freight for cargo truck owners.
On the same day, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to handle six bills set to expire, including the safety freight system and the special extended work hours system of 8 hours per week for workplaces with fewer than 30 employees, at the National Assembly plenary session. However, due to unresolved differences, the bills were effectively shelved. The system is now facing abolition after three years of implementation.
The safety freight system guarantees a minimum transportation fee to cargo workers to prevent overwork, speeding, and overloading. It was temporarily introduced in March 2020 only for cement and container cargo and is set to end by the end of this year.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is discussing the reform of the safety freight system by forming a consultative body including stakeholders such as cargo owners, transport companies, truck owners, and experts.
Minister Won said, "Both the ruling party and the government share the recognition that the long-neglected problems should be quickly fixed through agreement." He added, "The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will present a benchmark to narrow differences among stakeholders. We will not deliberately delay; legislation could be possible as early as January next year."
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