Samsung Electronics, the world's largest memory chipmaker and flagship unit of South Korean conglomerate Samsung Group, is facing an indefinite strike by its labor union representing over 30,000 workers. The dispute centers around better pay and benefits for the employees.
The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) announced the industrial action on July 10, 2024, following three days of general strikes that began on July 8. The union's demands include a significant wage increase and improved transparency in pay.
Samsung has disputed the claim that its production has been disrupted by the strike. However, thousands of workers have rallied outside Samsung's chipmaking complexes in South Korea to demand better compensation.
The NSEU represents nearly a quarter of Samsung Electronics' workforce in South Korea and staged its first walkout at the company since its founding five and a half decades ago. The union has been under intense public scrutiny after Samsung Group's chairman was prosecuted for market manipulation and bribery in 2020, leading to changes allowing unions to represent the company's workers.
Samsung Electronics is the world's largest maker of memory chips, smartphones, and televisions. The firm reported a significant increase in profits for the three months ending June 2024 due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology that lifted chip prices and drove up forecasts for the second quarter.
The NSEU's strike comes amid a wave of labor actions across South Korea, with workers at other major companies such as Hyundai Motor also demanding better wages and benefits. The strikes could potentially disrupt production in various industries, impacting the economy of Asia's fourth-largest economy.