We don't expect much from [the talks]

Sohn Nark-koo Trade union spokesman

Tens of thousands of trade unionists were set to stay away from work from 1300 local time (0400 GMT) despite the fact the government has declared the action illegal.

The Korean Federation of Trade Unions (KCTU) hopes more than 100,000 workers from the car-building, metal and hospital industries will participate, in support of power workers who have been on strike for more than a month.

About 800 riot police have surrounded the Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul, where power workers' leaders have been based since the strike began.

The unions held out little hope for a breakthrough at the talks between KCTU General-Secretary Lee Hong-Yoo and senior labour ministry official Kim Won-Bae.

"We don't expect much from it," said KCTU spokesman Sohn Nark-koo.

Privatisation fears

The KCTU has strongly backed the energy workers who embarked on industrial action in a bid to thwart the privatisation of power plants.

But the privatisation programme forms a key part of the government's economic reform package, and it shows no signs of backing down.

About 5,000 workers at thermal power plants affiliated with state utility Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) went on strike on 25 February to protest against a government privatisation plan they fear will lead to job losses.

Any crackdown or mass sacking of power workers would lead to a power supply crisis during this summer's World Cup finals

KCTU statement

Their action is widely supported among workers in other South Korean industries.

The rolling series of strikes over the next three days will involve both the public and private sector, including health and transport workers.

Labour leaders at Hyundai Motor Company - South Korea's largest carmaker - and at Kia Motors and Ssangyong Motors, agreed to join the strike on Tuesday and then decide whether to strike further.

The KCTU said it would call another sympathy strike next week unless the government backed down.

The second strike would involve thousands of state gas and rail workers, as well as pilots and flight attendants from the nation's two airlines - Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

Government stance

But the government has shown no sign of capitulating to the strikers' demands, and has promised tough action against them.

The country is undergoing painful economic restructuring

"The government will respond under strict principles of law and order," Labour Minister Bang Yong-suk said.

But the KCTU said the strike action would go ahead as planned. "Any crackdown or mass sacking of power workers would lead to a power supply crisis during this summer's World Cup finals," it warned in a statement.

South Korea and Japan are to host the global football tournament in June this year, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the region.

So far, 342 power workers have been fired for organising the illegal strike. The management also threatened to sack another 3,900 workers who were not reporting to work.

Privatising inefficient state companies is one of President Kim Dae-jung's priorities as he tries to reform the South Korean economy following the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998.