Hyundai Motor Labor and Management Reach Preliminary Special Agreement to Overcome COVID-19

Hyundai Motor Labor and Management Reach Special Agreement to Overcome COVID-19 on the 8th
Distribution of Masks and Hand Sanitizers, Additional Acquisition of Thermal Imaging Devices
Strengthened Disinfection Designated as Prevention Day...In-house Testing Center Operated in Case of Confirmed Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] The labor and management of Hyundai Motor Company, currently negotiating this year's wage and collective bargaining agreement (wage and collective bargaining), have prioritized a special agreement to overcome the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The agreement signifies that labor and management will jointly overcome the COVID-19 crisis by strengthening workplace quarantine measures directly related to the company's survival.

On the 8th, Hyundai Motor labor and management agreed on a 'Special Labor-Management Agreement for COVID-19 Prevention and Overcoming' during the 8th wage and collective bargaining negotiation held via a non-face-to-face video conference.

The additional COVID-19 prevention measures included in this agreement are contents formally submitted as agenda items for this year's wage and collective bargaining. Although the collective bargaining negotiations have not yet been finalized, both labor and management recognized the seriousness of the COVID-19 resurgence, such as the recent consecutive confirmed cases in large companies in the Ulsan area, and proactively processed the special agreement to implement it starting next week.

The scene of Hyundai Motor Company labor and management sitting face to face and discussing at the 2020 wage and collective bargaining agreement negotiation introductory meeting last August / Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

Specifically, to strengthen infectious disease prevention activities, the company will provide six masks per week, distribute hand sanitizers, and add other preventive supplies to strictly comply with the guidelines of quarantine authorities. Additionally, 75 thermal imaging inspection devices and 895 contactless thermometers will be additionally secured to strengthen fever screening.

Furthermore, labor and management will designate a 'Quarantine Day' every week at all factories to disinfect facilities and equipment, and consider increasing the number of commuter buses to reinforce social distancing. Also, if a confirmed case occurs within the workplace or social distancing level 2.5 is implemented, lunch time will be extended by 20 minutes to separate meal times, and the addition of lunch boxes to the cafeteria menu will be considered if necessary.

Moreover, labor and management will form a 'Joint Labor-Management Infectious Disease Prevention Task Force (TFT)' to jointly respond to the spread of infectious diseases including COVID-19, establish prevention manuals, and reorganize the quarantine system. In case of an increase in confirmed cases within the company, with approval from health authorities, a COVID-19 testing site will be installed inside the Ulsan plant and operated temporarily until the situation eases.

A Hyundai Motor official stated, "Considering the urgency of the issue at the turning point of the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic, labor and management agreed to prioritize the COVID-19 agenda in this negotiation and implement it." He added, "We will further strengthen COVID-19 response measures and overcome the crisis with all employees united as one."

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