Seoul: Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday proposed that its labor unions resume wage negotiations after government-mediated talks collapsed earlier this week. The South Korean tech giant sent an official document to its two major labor unions in what is widely viewed as a last-ditch effort to avert a strike scheduled for next Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, two days of government-led mediation ended without an agreement on Wednesday, as labor and management remained sharply divided over performance-based bonuses tied to the company's artificial intelligence-related earnings. The collapse of these discussions has intensified the urgency for Samsung to find a resolution to prevent the looming industrial action.
The unions have expressed dissatisfaction with the current bonus structure, arguing that it does not adequately reflect the contributions made by employees to the company's AI ventures. Meanwhile, Samsung maintains that its bonus system is fair and has been implemented consistently in line with company policies. The proposed resumption of talks aims to bridge the gap between the two parties before the planned strike date.