Paris Baguette Baker Direct Employment 'PVB Partners' Holds Vision Declaration Ceremony

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] SPC Group announced on the 1st that its subsidiary ‘PB Partners,’ established by directly employing Paris Baguette bakers, held a proclamation ceremony marking the completion of the ‘social agreement’ implementation and announcing a new vision in its third year since launch.

The event took place at the SPC Future Creation Center with the attendance of CEO Hwang Jaebok, Union Chairman Jeon Jinwook, Paris Baguette Franchisee Association Chairman Lee Joonghee, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Vice Chairman Moon Hyungun, and Director Ahn Jingul of the Institute for Livelihood Economy.

At the proclamation ceremony, PB Partners explained the completion of the ‘social agreement’ signed at the time of its launch. The social agreement, aimed at fostering win-win cooperation between labor and management and creating good jobs through improvements in wages and welfare levels, was signed in January 2018 with participation from the company, union, franchisees, civic groups, the Democratic Party’s Euljiro Committee, and the Justice Party’s Emergency Exit.

Over the past three years, PB Partners has faithfully implemented the social agreement provisions by raising wages by a total of 39.2%, improving annual salaries and welfare benefits to the same level as Paris Baguette, and strengthening communication through annual labor-management meetings.

They also increased days off by more than 30% compared to when they were part of a partner company and appointed lawyer Kim Jongbo, with experience at the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, as an outside director, making efforts to create a stable employment environment and an advanced labor-management culture.

Building on the completion of the social agreement, PB Partners declared the ‘Post PB Partners’ vision, pledging to ▲ secure quality competitiveness ▲ create a safe workplace and optimal working environment ▲ and establish a corporate culture of communication where everyone participates.

CEO Hwang Jaebok said, “Thanks to the joint efforts of labor and management and the help of many people, we were able to faithfully implement the social agreement. Going forward, the company and employees will grow together and move toward a new vision.”

Lawyer Kim Jongbo, who attended the event, evaluated, “Having observed as an outside director for the past three years, the company has sincerely strived to implement the social agreement and is expected to uphold the spirit of the social agreement for both franchisees and workers in the future.”

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Vice Chairman Moon Hyungun said, “Despite many difficulties, the company has tried to uphold the social agreement and has achieved great results. I hope they will continue to listen to the voices of workers going forward.”

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