South Korea's government on Thursday issued an order to truck drivers serving the petrochemical and steel industries to return to work, after issuing the first order to return to work in the cement industry on Nov 29.
Fifteen days passed after unionised truckers began a nationwide strike, as the losses caused by the unjustified refusal to work deepened in industries and the local economy, which prompted the government to issue a second order to resume work in the iron, steel and petrochemical sectors, Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo said at a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The Korean Prime Minister indicated that the losses resulting from the suspension of the distribution process fall directly on the country's economy and the livelihood of the general public, as the volume of accumulated stocks of refusal to deliver has reached a level that cannot be absorbed more, and the export routes were closed to stop the process of transporting goods to the ports.
Han urged the striking truck drivers to lift the strike and return to work as soon as possible, stressing the government's firm position of not making any compromises with illegal business and strictly holding them accountable.