Samsung Compliance Committee Chair: "Labor Rights Must Also Be Respected in Labor-to-Labor Relations"

[Financial News] Chanhee Lee, chair of the Samsung Compliance Committee, said labor rights are an important principle that must be respected even in relations between labor groups, referring to conflicts between unions within Samsung Electronics.
Before a regular meeting of the Samsung Compliance Committee was held at Samsung Life Insurance Seocho Tower in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, Lee gave this response when asked whether the Labor Subcommittee might address conflicts between unions within Samsung Electronics.
Lee said, "Since the second committee began its term, and through the third and fourth committees, the first of the three key tasks I mentioned was labor rights. We will continue to pay close attention to this issue."
When the fourth committee was launched in February, the Samsung Compliance Committee identified labor-management relations and labor rights as key priorities and recruited members with expertise in labor issues. In its annual report released in June, the committee also stated that it would examine whether any illegal acts violating human rights and compliance management occurred not only between labor and management but also between labor groups during wage negotiations.
Last month, the Samsung Compliance Committee held a Labor Subcommittee meeting, received a report on the labor advisory group established within Samsung Group and broader labor issues, and exchanged views.
Lee said, "We discussed overall issues, including human rights related to performance incentives and labor relations. We also plan to revitalize the Labor Subcommittee and seek advice from various experts."
His remarks are understood to have been made with the growing conflict in mind between unions formed mainly around Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions Division (DS Division), which oversees semiconductors, and its DX (Device eXperience) Division, which oversees home appliances, smartphones and televisions.
Regarding allegations that a blacklist was created and private benefits were improperly obtained in connection with the Super-Enterprise Labor Union’s Samsung Branch within Samsung Electronics, Lee said the facts would be verified first.
Lee also addressed allegations that some employees in the semiconductor division improperly received in-house monthly rent subsidies. He said, "The Samsung Compliance Committee has not yet accurately verified the facts. If there were problems in the process, I believe Samsung will handle them in accordance with the law and principles."
Regarding Samsung Electronics’ external consulting for a reform of its performance incentive system, Lee stated, "I do not know about it because it is a management issue. If it falls within the scope of compliance, we will examine it then."

[email protected] Jiyeon Park Reporter