Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) said on the 7th that "it is an undeniable fact that countless partner corporations' efforts, the government's support, continued investment in research and development, and the cooperation of local residents made Samsung Electronics what it is today."
The Minister said this while reviewing pending issues related to Samsung Electronics labor union's strike notice at the "national agency heads meeting" held that day. The Samsung Electronics labor union has said it will strike for 18 days starting on the 21st of this month, demanding that 15% of annual operating profit be paid as performance bonuses.
The Minister said, "We ask the Samsung Electronics labor union to reach a sincere dialogue as soon as possible." He added, "If a model for a new labor-management relationship is set, we can achieve sustainable growth with labor and growth for all alongside regional and industrial ecosystems." He went on, "If a bargaining table between labor and management (at Samsung Electronics) is set, the government will spare no effort to provide all support so that substantive negotiations can be facilitated."
In this regard, the National Labor Relations Commission, a collegial administrative body that mediates labor and management, is said to have checked whether Samsung Electronics labor and management are willing to participate in post-mediation. Post-mediation is a procedure in which the commission mediates negotiations with the consent of labor and management before the union legally goes on strike. It was also reported that on the 8th of this month, the Gyeonggi Regional Employment and Labor Office would hold a meeting with Choi Seung-ho, Chairperson of the Samsung Electronics branch of the supra-enterprise union.
That day, the Minister also reviewed how Articles 2 and 3 of the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (the "yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers") are taking root on the ground. The yellow envelope law centers on allowing labor unions of subcontract corporations to negotiate directly with the parent corporations. The Minister said, "Some claim that confusion is occurring on the ground due to the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act," adding, "The revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act is not a law that eliminates conflict itself but one that institutionalizes dialogue as a solution for labor-management relations."
He said, "Right now, the order of bargaining on the ground is being formed within the bounds of the law." He added, "The revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, which has just begun, marks the start of dialogue between labor and management and is in the process of creating a win-win order," and "As the government is also making efforts, we ask for the public's trust and support for the efforts of labor, management, and the government."