South Korea orders several workers to return to work

• South Korea ordered striking steel and petrochemical truckers to return to work.
• The government issued a “start work” order to compel 2,500 striking cement sector drivers back onto the road.
• Failure to comply may result in the revocation of licenses.

South Korea ordered striking steel and petrochemical truckers to return to work on Thursday, expanding a back-to-work directive beyond the cement industry.

During the opening comments of a televised cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed the ministers to issue the “start work” order.

Tens of thousands of striking truckers are requesting that a minimum wage initiative be made permanent and expanded. The government has thus far refused but stated that it could extend the program beyond the present three-year duration. Two rounds of negotiations have yielded no progress.

“The government remains steadfast. We absolutely have to break the vicious cycle of an unjustified organized act,” Han said.

A top union official stated that no more negotiation sessions were scheduled.

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The government issued a “start work” order to compel 2,500 striking cement sector drivers back onto the road last week. Approximately 35 percent of the nation’s 2,600 fuel tanker drivers are on strike, according to media reports citing the industry ministry.

The administration announced this week that the second strike in less than six months delayed the delivery of 3.5 trillion won ($2.66 billion) in commodities over its first 12 days.

Steel shipments are at 48% of normal levels, and shipments of petrochemical products have dropped to roughly 20% of normal levels, the transport ministry reported on Thursday, sparking concerns that these interruptions may harm the production of automobiles and ships.

Due to a lack of raw materials and storage space for unsold inventory, petrochemical businesses are considering reducing operations as early as this weekend.

The “start work” order issued last month was the first time the government compelled striking workers to return to work. Failure to comply may result in the revocation of licenses, imprisonment for three years, or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,550).

The government claims the order was effective in putting striking truckers back on the road, but the union says it will challenge the order in court with the assistance of certified labor attorneys.

According to several truckers, the loss of money during the strike makes it harder for drivers to continue the walkout.

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