South Korea’s automaker Ssangyong to reinstate 119 laid-off workers

This follows almost a decade of a protracted labour dispute between the carmaker and employees who were forcefully let go in 2009.
By: | September 17, 2018 • 2 min read
Topics: Asia-Pacific | News | South Korea

 

The management of South Korea’s fourth-largest carmaker, Ssangyong Motor, has agreed with the company’s labour union to reinstate 119 workers who were dismissed in 2009, ending a nearly decade-long conflict that had become a social and political issue.

The agreement calls for Ssangyong to rehire 60% of the 119 laid off workers by the end of 2018 and the remaining by end of June next year.

The beginning of the long-standing issue at Ssangyong dates back to June 2009, when the company fired the former employees after filing for court receivership.

As part of that receivership, the company undertook restructuring that laid off more than 2,000 workers.

Some 900 workers were given the option to file unpaid leave or voluntary resignation, while 165 workers who refused both options were fired.

Since then, the company has rehired some of the workers who did decide to take up either option.

The Korean Metal Workers’ Union’s Ssangyong Motor branch has also decided to end all rallies and sit-ins against the management following the signing of the agreement.