The Construction Association of Korea said on the 8th that it had set up a ready-mix concrete business suspension-related support center for corporations and asked for continued government support to resume talks between the union and manufacturers, following the transport refusal in the greater Seoul area by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions National Ready-Mix Concrete Transport Union.
The association said, "This transport refusal occurred as ready-mix concrete manufacturers refused to negotiate transport rates, and if inbound deliveries of ready-mix concrete are completely halted, disruptions to major work types will be unavoidable, leading to expected economic damage such as penalty for delay." The association also said, "We asked for continued government support so that both labor and management return to the bargaining table quickly and reach an amicable agreement," and added, "In case the transport refusal is prolonged, we proposed measures to stabilize the supply of ready-mix concrete, including easing requirements for installing batch plants (on-site ready-mix concrete production facilities) in the greater Seoul area."
Chair Han Seung-gu emphasized swift government mediation, saying, "With many companies standing at the crossroads of survival due to the real estate downturn and rising raw material prices, if disruptions in ready-mix concrete transport occur in the greater Seoul area, where advanced industries responsible for supplying construction volume and Korea's competitiveness are concentrated, astronomical national losses will occur."
The association will operate a "ready-mix concrete business suspension-related support center for corporations" until the suspension of ready-mix concrete supply is resolved. It will also activate a hotline with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to inspect damage at construction sites and continue consultations to ensure that proposals are reflected quickly.