South Korea's government on Thursday ordered some 10,000 striking truckers in the fuel and steel industries to return to work, a week after it broke a strike by truckers in the cement sector.
Determined to end a strike that has been going on for more than two weeks, authorities in Seoul have provided severe penalties for truckers who continue their movement.
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The strikers, who are demanding the continuation of their guaranteed minimum wage, risk a prison sentence of up to three years, a fine of up to 30 million won (about 22,000 euros) and a suspension of their driving license.
The strike, which began Nov. 24, is disrupting the distribution of fuel and steel products in the world's fourth-largest economy.
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This social movement delayed the supply for an estimated value of some 2.5 million euros, over the first twelve days of the movement, according to the Seoul Ministry of Commerce.
The government has also issued an order to "
relaunch (...) transport within the steel and petrochemical industries
", Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho announced on Thursday.
“
Our economy is facing a crisis due to declining exports, inflation and high interest rates.
We have no time or energy to waste on unnecessary conflict
,” he told reporters.
Shipments of steel materials were reduced to around 48% from normal, while petrochemicals were shipped at only 20% of usual levels, the finance minister said.
Faced with rising fuel prices, truck drivers demanded the continuation of the minimum compensation program – introduced to deal with it – which is due to expire at the end of the year.
A week ago, Seoul ordered cement truck drivers back to work under similar circumstances and with similar penalties.
A thousand strikers then had to return to work at the end of November, after six days of strike for the same demand.
This is the first time that the government has taken such a decision since the passage of the road transport law in 2004. It then announced that it would extend the guaranteed minimum income program for three years, which was deemed insufficient. by the truckers' union, which accused the authorities of "
forcing us to die
".
