LG Energy Solution will resume business trips to the United States. It comes about a month after the mass detention of Korean workers in Georgia on 4th.
Following SK On's move at the end of 4th to lift the lodging hold for personnel holding short-term business (B-1) visas, there is an outlook that the disrupted U.S. battery operations will return to normal.
According to LG Energy Solution on 2nd, the company plans to resume U.S. business trips after the Chuseok holiday, focusing on essential personnel.
This follows confirmation by the Korea-U.S. visa working group formed after the detention incident that holders of B-1 visas and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) can carry out equipment installation, inspection, and maintenance activities at U.S. plants.
Previously, LG Energy Solution fully suspended U.S. business trips after 47 of its employees and about 250 partner company personnel were detained by immigration authorities at a joint battery plant under construction with Hyundai Motor Group.
With seven plants under construction or operation in the United States, LG Energy Solution appears to have decided on a swift resumption of trips to ensure smooth project progress. The personnel subject to travel are reportedly those needed to perform tasks such as equipment installation and operation at plants under construction and operation, including the HL-GA plant in Georgia where construction had been halted.
As it resumes travel, the company will also implement measures so travelers can feel secure and focus on their work, including: ▲ organizing travelers mainly with B-1 visas ▲ strengthening entry support procedures such as local legal services ▲ preparing and continuously wearing documentation proving the legitimacy of travelers' duties ▲ establishing a professional response system by designating on-site response managers for each subsidiary and providing support from outside counsel.
Although the working group said ESTA can be used, for traveler safety the company decided to use ESTA only for simple meetings or event attendance. It will also designate managers responsible for traveler oversight by subsidiary and site, as well as on-site leads, to build a cooperation system. This is to ensure immediate response to any unforeseen situation.
LG Energy Solution said, "We will do our best to normalize plant construction and operations in the United States to build a safe travel environment and maintain trust with customers."