President issues executive order for striking cement-field truckers to return to work

Social Affairs

Published: 29 Nov. 2022, 11:41 Updated: 30 Nov. 2022, 11:29

President issues executive order for striking cement-field truckers to return to work

President Yoon Suk-yeol issues an executive order for cement-field truckers on strike to retrun to work during a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

President Yoon Suk-yeol issued an executive order for cement-field truckers on strike to return to work on Tuesday.

“Today, the government inevitably issues an executive order to restart operations for those who refuse to transport goods in the cement sector in order to prevent a more serious crisis,” said Yoon during a cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan Tuesday morning. “Once the economy stops, it is difficult to turn back and takes a lot of sacrifice and expense to get it back on track.”

Following Yoon’s issuance of the executive order, related ministries released statements with the specific terms of punishment in the case of failure to heed the order.

Failure to return to work without “justifiable reasons” may result in suspension of operation and suspension of qualifications for truckers, as well as imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,600).

“Due to the illegal refusal to work by truckers that started on Nov. 24 the amount of cement shipments has plunged by more than 90 percent and 50 percent of production of ready-mixed concrete has stopped,” read the statement from related ministries, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, among others.

Yoon further warned that construction and production sites across the country have stopped due to the suspension of logistics of materials such as cement and steel, and that Korea’s industrial base could be devastated, leading to the daily lives of citizens being threatened.

“There is no justification for taking people’s livelihoods and the national economy hostage in order to achieve one’s own interests,” said Yoon, referring to truckers on strike. “In particular, it is an unacceptable criminal act to block the entry and exit of other transportation vehicles and to attack colleagues who choose not to participate in the strike.”

Calling for a “prompt return to their places” for the truckers, Yoon also emphasized intentions to establish a “rule of law” between labor and management during his term in office. The president also spoke strongly about illegal acts during the strike, saying that “there will be no compromise” with any illegality.

Yoon further said that it was “very regretful” that a solidarity strike by the subway and railway sector unions are to follow the truckers’ strike.

“The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ strike has no justification,” Yoon stressed. “The government will deal with this sternly and in accordance to the law and principles.”

Later Tuesday, Yoon again emphasized that "all measures will be deployed to deal with the situation if unjustified demands continue" from the Cargo Truckers Solidarity.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]