Hyundai Steel signs first agreement with unions after labor law change
In South Korea, steelmaker Hyundai Steel has concluded a collective agreement with unions representing workers at four of its subsidiaries. The document was signed at Hyundai Steel's plant in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province.
As The Korea Herald reports, this is the first such agreement between a parent company and unions representing employees of subcontracting entities after South Korea's updated Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act came into force.
Negotiation participants
South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor said that Hyundai Steel, Hyundai ITC, Hyundai IEC, Hyundai IMC and Hyundai ISC signed the agreement on Thursday. Hyundai Steel held four rounds of negotiations with the unions of these four companies; the first meeting took place on August 20.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
In April, the National Labor Relations Commission ruled to establish separate bargaining units for unions representing workers at Hyundai Steel's four subsidiaries and for workers of other in-house subcontractors.
Occupational safety
The parties agreed to continuously improve the occupational safety and health management system at the subsidiaries. They are also to develop a medium- and long-term roadmap to raise occupational safety and health standards in workplaces.
Amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the law, known as the “Yellow Envelope Act,” came into force on March 10. They expanded the definition of an employer: a person who substantially controls working conditions may be considered an employer. This gave more opportunities for collective bargaining to unions representing workers in indirect or outsourced positions.
