Big firms toe line on Park’s pro-labor calls

Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and Ssangyong Motor are toeing the line set by President-elect Park Geun-hye regarding labor relations.

Samsung has recently proposed to hold negotiations with an advocacy group representing families of employees who died from what it says were industry-induced diseases.

On Thursday, Ssangyong Motor agreed to reinstate 455 workers who have been on unpaid leave for the last three years due to the firm’s financial woes.

Park asked for a change in approach to business management on Dec. 27 when she met members of the Federation of Korean Industries, a lobbying group for large enterprises.

They were also asked to refrain from firing non-regular workers and put them on regular payrolls.

The advocacy group for former workers at Samsung Electronics’ chip plants said it was “surprised” when the firm proposed talks on compensation to the families of people who had died or were still suffering from leukemia and other diseases.  

Ssangyong Motor’s agreement on reinstating the workers came after the firm initially refused to accept their demands and those of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU), to re-hire them long term.

A total of 13 former autoworkers and their family members committed suicide between 2009 and 2012 amid financial difficulties arising from the unpaid leave.

The KMWU welcomed the agreement. However, it said that the automaker’s move was somewhat “politically-motivated.”

“The company had repeatedly said it will reinstate the workers when its management conditions gets better,” said Kim Hyuk, the director of policy at the KMWU.

He claimed that Ssangyong Motor’s decision was to avoid a National Assembly inspection into the company. A number of lawmakers called for a parliamentary probe into the case, while officials of the firm said such an act “would damage its reputation and negatively affect its auto sales.”

Aside from the 455 workers, the firm got rid of 1,900 employees under a restructuring program in 2009.

“To show that its decision was not politically-motivated, it will also need to hire those workers as well,” Kim said.

Hyundai Motor, the country’s largest carmaker, said recently it would make 3,500 employees out of its 8,500 non-regular workers, full-time employees.

Kim said he welcomed the decision. However, he added the firm should also do the same for the remaining workers. <The Korea Times/Yi Whan-woo>