Economic 6 Organizations "Abolish Total Quota System for Cargo Truck License Plates... Prevent Transport Refusal"

"Call to Abolish the Safe Freight Rate System"

On the afternoon of the 9th, when the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (Cargo Solidarity) lifted their strike, the Cargo Solidarity strike tents in front of the Sunkwang Shin Container Terminal at Incheon New Port, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, were completely empty. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Six major economic organizations including the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Employers Federation, the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, and the Korea Association of Mid-sized Enterprises demanded on the 15th that "the total volume regulation on freight vehicle license plates must be abolished." This is to prevent the recurrence of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union Freight Solidarity Headquarters' collective general strike.

On the same day, the six economic organizations issued a statement urging, "The total volume management of commercial freight vehicles and the license plate permit system are enabling repeated collective transport refusals by freight vehicle owners and the shutdown of land logistics."

According to the six economic organizations, the total volume regulation on freight vehicles was introduced after the early 2000s foreign exchange crisis to prevent excessive competition caused by the rapid increase in freight vehicles.

The six economic organizations stated, "The total volume regulation on freight vehicles makes it difficult for young freight vehicle owners to enter the market and hinders the advancement of the transport market, such as transport contracts through platforms and the introduction of autonomous freight vehicles," and demanded, "The government should carefully review whether this regulation is suitable for the current transport market."

They also demanded the abolition of the 'Safe Freight Rate System,' which was the cause of the Freight Solidarity strike. The six economic organizations said, "We are relieved that the Freight Solidarity has finally decided to return to work, but we strongly demand once again the abolition of the Safe Freight Rate System, which has shown various problems during its three years of implementation."

They argued that the Safe Freight Rate System caused freight rates to surge, weakening export competitiveness, and had no definite traffic safety effects. The six economic organizations said, "Rather than abstract attempts to achieve traffic safety through income guarantees for vehicle owners, more scientific and empirical safety efforts are needed, such as mandatory submission of digital tachograph (DTG) data and its utilization to limit daily driving hours and ensure rest times."

The six economic organizations said, "At a time when companies' sense of crisis is rising due to unprecedented raw material price increases and rapid interest rate hikes by major countries, and the national economy is facing difficulties, all market participants must unite to restore economic vitality," and added, "We hope that all parties in the Safe Freight Rate System and the transport market will gather wisdom to seek a win-win strategy rather than collective selfishness."

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