PM welcomes Samsung Electronics pay talks, warns of possible emergency arbitration

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Sunday welcomed the planned resumption of dialogue between Samsung Electronics and its labor union amid a looming strike, while warning that the government will consider every possible measure, including emergency arbitration, to minimize potential damage to the national economy. Kim made the remarks in a public statement addressed to the nation, as labor and management have decided to resume government-led mediation talks Monday, just four days ahead of a planned walkout. The two sides have remained widely divided over performance-based bonuses tied to the company's earnings from the artificial intelligence (AI)-related semiconductor business. "The government sincerely welcomes the decision to resume dialogue," Kim said, calling the planned talks "the last opportunity" to prevent a strike. The company's largest labor union plans to begin the 18-day strike starting Thursday. The union has said over 46,000 of its members have expressed willingness to join the strike. "As a strike at Samsung Electronics can inflict enormous damage on the national economy, the

Original source: Korea Times