South Korea to order truckers serving petrochemical, steel sectors to return to work

SEOUL: The South Korean government is expected to order truckers serving the petrochemical and steel sectors to return to work this week as a national strike by truckers entered its 14th day on Wednesday December 7 media reported on Wednesday.

Last month, the government told truckers serving the cement industry, who made up around 10 per cent of the 25,000 truckers involved in the strike, to return to work.

After President Yoon Suk-yeol meets with his Cabinet on Thursday, a high-ranking official in the presidential office is expected to issue a start-work order this time, according to online media outlet Money Today.

The presidential office was not immediately responding to a request for comment by Reuters.

The industry ministry said that the strike has disrupted supply chains, costing South Korea 3.5 trillion won US $2.65 billion in lost shipments over the first 12 days.

The transport ministry said on Tuesday that shipments of petrochemicals overseas have fallen to just about 5 per cent of normal levels, while domestic shipments are at about 50 to 90 per cent of normal levels.

Several companies are considering reducing production starting next week due to shortages of raw materials or because their inventories are piling up, or it added.

The ministry said that steel shipments were 47 per cent less than normal on Monday.

The government told truckers to get back to work, according to the lobby group Korea Cement Association, which has bounced back to 93 per cent of normal levels from 10 per cent earlier in the strike.