SEOUL (Portal) – South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday ordered preparations to extend a back-to-work order beyond the cement industry amid an ongoing truck drivers’ strike.
Thousands of South Korean truckers have been on strike for more than 10 days and government and union negotiators are making no headway over disagreements over minimum wage rules.
Yoon, a conservative, on Tuesday issued a “start work” order for 2,500 drivers in the cement industry, the first in the country’s history, asking them to get back on the road or face fines.
On Sunday, Yoon called on government ministers to make preparations to issue a return-to-work order in sectors like oil refining and steelmaking where additional damage is expected, spokesman Lee Jae-myoung said in a statement.
Yoon called for punishment of those who broke laws during the strike and ordered ministers to take measures to minimize damage, such as: B. the use of alternative drivers, military personnel and military equipment.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, an umbrella organization, is planning a general strike for Tuesday.
“I can only view this planned strike as a politically motivated action and not one aimed at defending workers’ rights,” Yoon said, according to Lee, signaling a possible harsh response from the government.
“Holding people’s lives and the national economy hostage during this time of economic troubles makes it difficult for vulnerable, disorganized workers to survive and deprives future generations and the general public of their future jobs,” Yoon said.
The strikes have disrupted South Korea’s supply chain and cost 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in lost shipments in the first seven days, the Industry Ministry said on Thursday.
The government has announced that it will not extend a minimum wage system for truck drivers beyond another three years. The union says it should be permanent and broader.
Thousands demonstrated in downtown Seoul on Saturday in support of truckers’ demands.