The Samsung Biologics labor union has proposed a 4.5-day workweek and a new monthly 300,000 won hazard allowance for antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) in labor-management talks. Analysts said this could become a new flashpoint in labor relations following the Samsung Biologics data leak scandal.
According to the business community on the 27th, Samsung Biologics labor and management are currently conducting wage and collective bargaining talks. The union is demanding that weekly working hours be cut from 40 to 36. A representative of the Samsung Biologics Win-Win Union said, "Social sentiment is moving toward a 4.5-day workweek, and there were opinions inside the company that working hours are excessive."
The union also proposed creating an ADC hazard allowance. ADC is a treatment technology that attaches a drug (payload) to an antibody to deliver it precisely to cancer cells. It reduces side effects on normal cells and maximizes treatment efficacy. However, because the payload carries toxicity risks, the union says employees involved in ADC processing or quality control should receive a monthly 300,000 won hazard allowance.
The Samsung Biologics union is proposing a wage increase of 9.3% for this year plus an additional 3 million won. It is also demanding that the starting salary be raised from 49.5 million won to 54 million won.
In Nov. last year, Samsung Biologics drew controversy after human resources team materials containing employees' personal information were leaked internally. The data included resident registration numbers, educational backgrounds, annual salaries, and performance evaluations for 5,000 employees.
As the problem grew serious, the company paid each employee a 4 million won incentive at the end of last year following a labor-management agreement. It was reportedly paid regardless of rank, even to those on leave.
Also, in Jan. this year, Samsung Biologics paid an over-profit incentive (OPI) equivalent to 50% of employees' annual salary. OPI is a Samsung Group incentive program paid early the following year based on annual performance. Samsung Biologics posted 4.557 trillion won in consolidation sales and 2.0692 trillion won in operating profit last year, up 30% and 57%, respectively, from a year earlier.
Regarding the current labor-management proposal, a Samsung Biologics public relations official said, "It is under discussion, so it is difficult to comment."