Ssangyong Motor Dismissed Reinstated Employee "Finally Accepts Company's Reinstatement Offer"... Returning After 11 Years

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The last remaining 46 reinstated workers who were laid off from Ssangyong Motor have expressed their acceptance of the company's return plan. Their return to the production site marks the first time in 11 years since the so-called 'Ssangyong Motor Incident' in 2009.

Kim Deuk-jung, head of the Metal Workers' Union Ssangyong Motor branch, stated in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 25th, "After urgent discussions on the 24th and 25th, we unanimously decided to accept the company's return plan."

Previously, Ssangyong Motor had decided through a labor-labor-management-government agreement on September 21, 2018, to reinstate 119 workers who were laid off in 2009, and had been proceeding with the process accordingly.

The reinstated workers of Ssangyong Motor returned in stages, with 71 workers returning on January 1, 2019, and the remaining 46 workers were scheduled to be assigned to departments on the 6th of last month. However, the company converted the 46 workers who were waiting for reinstatement into 'paid leave' receiving 70% of their ordinary wages on December 24 last year, citing management difficulties.

In response, Ssangyong Motor announced on the 24th, "We have decided to assign the 46 reinstated workers currently on paid leave to departments starting May 1," opening the path for their return. The 46 workers on leave will be assigned to departments from May 1, undergo two months of OJT (On The Job Training) and work training, and be deployed to the field on July 1.

However, while the reinstated workers accept the company's return plan, they emphasized that it is an unfair treatment.

In a statement released that day, they said, "The company and the corporate union excluded the 46 parties involved and the Metal Workers' Union Ssangyong Motor branch, which is the agreement party, and unilaterally announced through the media and notified the parties involved," pointing out that "there has been no apology or responsibility for unilaterally breaking the labor-labor-management-government (Metal Workers' Union Ssangyong Motor branch, Ssangyong Motor company, Ssangyong Motor union, Economic and Social Labor Council) agreement, which was a promise to the public."

They continued, "The May return and July field assignment, which are not immediate reinstatements, are unilateral actions that do not show sincerity, so there were many opinions that we must fight and struggle to the end," but added, "However, since the major shareholder Mahindra and Ssangyong Motor company have neglected investment and management while forcing only the sacrifices of hardworking workers, despite the serious problems with this unilateral announcement, all 46 decided to enter the field, join their colleagues, and respond together," explaining the reason for their return.

They expressed, "We once again deeply thank the colleagues inside the factory, civil society, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Metal Workers' Union who stood with us against the breach of the national agreement," and stated, "The Ssangyong Motor branch will not hesitate to play its role in overcoming the crisis of Ssangyong Motor."

Ssangyong Motor also welcomed their decision to return. A Ssangyong Motor official said, "We welcome the decision to return," and added, "We will do our best to normalize the company together with all members."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.