South Korea President Yoon warns of crackdown on placing truckers By Reuters

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol warned that the federal government may step in to interrupt up a nationwide strike by truckers, calling it unlawful and unacceptable to take the nationwide provide chain “hostage” throughout an financial disaster.

Hundreds of unionised truckers kicked off their second main strike in lower than six months on Thursday, and it’s already exhibiting indicators of disrupting a number of industries on the earth’s Tenth-largest financial system.

“The general public won’t tolerate taking the logistics system hostage within the face of a nationwide disaster,” Yoon stated in a Fb (NASDAQ:) message late on Thursday, after saying exports have been key to overcoming financial instability and monetary market volatility.

“If the irresponsible denial of transport continues, the federal government can have no selection however to assessment various measures, together with a piece begin order.”

In line with South Korean regulation, throughout a severe disruption to transportation the federal government could situation such an order to power transport employees again to their jobs. Failure to conform is punishable by as much as three years of jail, or a superb of as much as 30 million gained ($22,550.12).

If the federal government takes this route, it might be the primary time in South Korean historical past such a order has been issued.

Transport Minister Received Hee-ryong advised reporters on Thursday that the ministry has begun groundwork for issuing the order.

The top of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union (CTSU), Lee Bong-ju, stated the truckers had no selection however to strike after the federal government stalled negotiations and haven’t sought dialogue since.

“The Yoon Suk-yeol authorities is threatening a hard-line response with none efforts to cease the strike,” Lee advised reporters on Thursday.

The union estimated about 25,000 individuals have been becoming a member of the strike, out of about 420,000 complete transport employees in South Korea. The transport ministry stated about 8,000 individuals have been camped out on Thursday at key transport factors to protest in a single day.

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