The South Korean government Wednesday warned it will use its emergency powers to end labor strike at Korean Air, the larger one of the nation's two major carriers, if the unionized pilots begin strike as scheduled.

"The unionized pilots should immediately cancel the strike because it would cause immense damage to the national economy and inconvenience to the people," a statement jointly issued by South Korean Ministry of Construction and Transportation and Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy said earlier Wednesday.

The statement also warned the government will invoke its emergency arbitration right if the labor union starts the strike.

According to relating rules, South Korean government could invoke the arbitration right to end a labor dispute deemed important to the country's economy. When the right being used, all the employees must return to work unconditionally.

The South Korean government's strong wording statement came after the Korean Air Flight Crew Union said it will start strike as scheduled from Thursday since it did not reach any agreement with the company's management earlier Wednesday.

The union demands 6.5 percent wage increase and 50 percent rise in bonuses. However, the management only agreed to offering a 2.5 percent wage hike.

On Tuesday, 80 percent of the union's 1,334 members voted to strike from Thursday. The unionized pilots account for 70 percent of Korean Air's pilots.

According to the government, a strike would cost Korean Air 18. 7 billion won (18.1 million US dollars) a day.

South Korea is also feared to suffer 50 billion won (48.5 million dollars) in lost exports a day because of disrupted air cargo services.

Korean Air has been ranked among the top three freight carriers since 1993 in the world.

In summer this year, South Korean government has used its arbitration right to end the strike of unionized pilots at Asiana Airlines, the smaller one of the two major carriers here.

Source: Xinhua