South Korea President Yoon warns of crackdown on hanging 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.

1000’s 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 this planet’s Tenth-largest financial system.

“The general public is not going to 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 had been key to overcoming financial instability and monetary market volatility.

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

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

If the federal government takes this route, it could 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 pinnacle of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union (CTSU), Lee Bong-ju, stated the truckers had no alternative 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 folks had been becoming a member of the strike, out of about 420,000 complete transport staff in South Korea. The transport ministry stated about 8,000 folks had been camped out on Thursday at key transport factors to protest in a single day.

($1 = 1,330.3700 received)