Labor protests in South Korea; Government asking truck drivers to end their strike

Workers are protesting against the government’s decision to recall the country’s lorry drivers, who are protesting for better working conditions and wages. About 20,000 truck drivers are on strike, completely blocking the movement of goods in the country. The Ministry of Commerce has released a report that the country has suffered a loss of 1,60,000 crore US dollars. After this, the government ordered that action will be taken against the drivers who did not return to work. Then the protest intensified. Thousands of people across the country took to the streets to support the drivers.

On Tuesday, the government ordered 2500 cement truck drivers to return to work. Protesters marched near the National Assembly in Seoul. No incidents of violence were reported in connection with the march. The protest marches were organized under the leadership of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The labor union said President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government is trying to suppress and pretend it doesn’t see the economic hardships and workplace problems experienced by truck drivers after the increase in fuel prices.

The union has decided to continue the strike following the government’s order. But it is not clear how many drivers have returned to work. Thousands of members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity union have been on strike since last week to demand that the minimum freight rates system, which expires this year, be installed. The protesters are also demanding that the benefits be extended to other goods, while the lowest rate currently applies to shipping containers and cement. The government announced that they will take action against the workers after the compromise negotiations failed. Failure to comply with the order will result in license cancellation, three years in prison and a $22,550 fine.

English Summary: Workers strike in South Korea
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