Court: "Hyundai Motor to Pay Wage Differences and Severance Pay to Dispatched Workers"

Dispatched workers affiliated with Hyundai Motor Company's partner firms filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor, demanding wages and severance pay, and won in the first trial.

Hyundai Motor Company Headquarters in Yangjae-dong
Photo by Yonhap News

According to the legal community on the 29th, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Agreement Division 48 (Chief Judge Kim Do-gyun) recently ruled partially in favor of the plaintiffs in the first trial of a wage claim lawsuit filed by 139 Hyundai Motor dispatched workers and their bereaved families against Hyundai Motor.

The court stated, "The plaintiffs, who are workers belonging to the defendant's partner firms, are in a dispatched worker relationship receiving direct orders and instructions from the defendant," and added, "The defendant pointed out errors in the prior ruling but did not submit any evidence to view the case differently."

Previously, 135 people including Mr. A, who worked in production positions such as painting and logistics at Hyundai Motor factories, filed a lawsuit in 2015 against Hyundai Motor for 'confirmation of worker status and wage claims,' winning in both the first and second trials. These cases are currently awaiting the Supreme Court's judgment.

Based on the recognition of worker status in the prior ruling, Mr. A's side filed this lawsuit demanding payment of the difference between wages incurred from January 2018 to December 2020 and the actual amount paid, as well as severance pay.

On the other hand, Hyundai Motor has countered, stating, "The prior ruling is not yet finalized, and contrary to the prior ruling's judgment, a dispatched worker relationship between the plaintiffs and Hyundai Motor is not recognized."

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