Photo : YONHAP News
Anchor: Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union are embroiled in a two-day discussion, likely the final round of government-mediated wage negotiations ahead of a looming 18-day strike. Amid concerns about the repercussions this dispute could have on the nation’s economy, President Lee Jae Myung says the rights of businesses should be respected as much as those of labor.
Our Koo Heejin has the details.
Report: Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union are engaged in two days of government-led wage mediation talks in a last-ditch effort to avert a strike at the world’s largest memory chipmaker.
Labor and management gathered Monday morning at the National Labor Relations Commission at the government complex in Sejong to exchange views.
Negotiations will take place in earnest in the afternoon and continue into Tuesday.
The crux of the dispute is the union’s demand that bonuses be set at 15 percent of operating profit, that the performance payout cap be abolished, and that the bonus system be standardized.
The company has proposed maintaining the current excess profit incentive system while allowing the bonus to be based on either 10 percent of operating profit or economic value.
Reflecting these concerns, President Lee Jae Myung posted on social media that the rights of both labor and management must be respected in a country that has adopted a free democracy and a capitalist market economy.
The president said workers should receive fair compensation for their labor, while shareholders, who have borne the burden of risk and loss, deserve their share of corporate profits.
As it remains unclear whether management and labor can bridge their differences, the government has said it may be forced to invoke its emergency arbitration powers, which would suspend industrial action for 30 days, a move that would face censure from labor groups.
Koo Heejin, KBS World Radio News.