Government: "Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering strike will face criminal liability... No involvement in civil matters" ... Statement to be announced soon

On the 22nd, when the subcontractor labor-management negotiations at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering were dramatically settled, Kwon Soo-oh, CEO of Noksan Enterprise (left), and Hong Ji-wook, Vice Chairman of the Metal Workers' Union, showed their joined hands to the press at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Okpo Shipyard in Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seung-jin] As the strike by subcontractor unions at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) was resolved on the 51st day on the 22nd, the government announced its intention to hold them criminally responsible.

A government official said in a phone interview with Yonhap News on the same day, "The strike has come to an end for now, but civil and criminal issues remain," adding, "The government plans to hold the labor union criminally responsible through complaints and accusations."

The government intends not to intervene in civil matters such as claims for damages.

The official drew a clear line, saying, "Civil matters are issues to be decided between labor and management," and "The government will not participate in the labor-management council."

Negotiations between the DSME In-house Partner Companies Council (representing partner companies) and the Metalworkers' Union Geoje-Tongyeong-Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractor Branch (subcontractor branch) were resolved on the 51st day of the strike.

The partner companies and the subcontractor branch announced the negotiation settlement around 4:30 p.m. at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in Geoje City, Gyeongnam Province. The two sides reached an agreement after about eight hours of negotiations starting from 8 a.m. that day.

The DSME subcontractor labor and management announced that they reached a fundamental agreement on the 4.5% wage increase proposed by management and the employment succession of workers from closed subcontractor companies.

However, regarding the contentious issues of damages due to the strike and the scope of exemption from criminal liability, significant differences in opinion remain between the subcontractor labor and management, and further dialogue is planned.

Meanwhile, a presidential office official said that instead of a statement in President Yoon's name, the government decided to convey its position through a joint statement by relevant ministers.

On the 18th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, and Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik issued a 'Joint Statement by Relevant Ministries Regarding Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering,' urging the settlement of negotiations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.