Hyundai worker ruling likely to affect Samsung, GM

A Seoul court’s ruling on Friday paved the way for 253 more nonregular employees of Hyundai Motor to be given regular employee status with the automaker, following a similar verdict the previous day.

The Seoul Central District Court, which on Thursday ruled that 994 nonregular workers are believed to have been “directly” hired by Hyundai Motor, ruled in favor of the 253 workers in their class action suit against the automotive giant and its subcontractors.

The court found that the combined 1,247 employees had been discriminated against in terms of wages and job security despite working alongside Hyundai Motor’s regular staff at assembly lines in major cities, including Ulsan.

At issue is how the two-day ruling will affect similar litigations in the conglomerate sector, with many parts suppliers having actively hired nonregular workers.

Samsung Electronics has been entangled in legal disputes with its 1,500 nonregular workers from the chipmaker’s subcontractors. Kia Motors, GM Korea and Hyundai Hysco have also been sued by their contract workers over similar matters.

A series of suits have been filed since the Supreme Court in July 2010 acknowledged the unfair labor terms made between Hyundai Motor and a group of nonregular workers of the company’s manufacturing factory.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)