Catherwood LibraryILR School

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, relations between workers and management in South Korea's auto industry are turning to a new spirit of cooperation. At companies such as Hyundai Motor, where unions have traditionally proven inflexible when it comes to changes in production plans, labor leaders are vowing to adapt to new challenges in production and quality as part of those automakers response to the crisis, while companies are pledging to maintain jobs industry-wide. Many issues are still in contention, however, as nationwide employers and workers are at odds in negotiations over adjusting South Korea's minimum wage, with companies demanding a small decrease while unions have demonstrated for a steep increase.