"Minimum Wage Levels, Only Workload Increased"... The Other Side of the 'Semiconductor Boom'

[Anchor]

While Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have forecasted record-breaking performances and even bonuses, these achievements feel worlds away for subcontracted semiconductor workers. These workers have expressed that the semiconductor boom has only led to increased work intensity and a growing sense of deprivation.

Reporter Jeon Hyeong-u met with them.

[Reporter]

Kim Jin-soo, a subcontracted worker, has been transporting wafers and other materials necessary for semiconductor manufacturing at the SK Hynix Cheongju plant for 10 years.

He says the work intensity has increased as the semiconductor industry has improved.

[Kim Jin-soo / SK Hynix Subcontracted Worker (P&S Logistics Branch): The volume has started to increase tremendously, and they make four people do the work that requires eight.]

He stated that at the Cheongju plant, subcontracted workers were transported to the hospital twice last month alone due to hydrofluoric acid gas leaks.

Despite working hard while taking on risks, what they received in return was a mutual growth incentive far smaller than expected.

They say they do not expect the six-figure bonuses (in KRW) that Hynix employees receive, but they appealed for compensation that would not leave them feeling deprived.

[Kim Jin-soo / SK Hynix Subcontracted Worker (P&S Logistics Branch): Even if it is not about pride, shouldn't they provide at least enough to maintain our self-respect?]

Subcontracted workers at Samsung Electronics envied even that.

This is because there is no amount paid that is linked to Samsung Electronics' performance.

[Noh Tae-yeon / Samsung Electronics Subcontracted Worker (SY Union): We walk at least 20,000 steps a day. Conditions like cellulitis or varicose veins are very common.]

They claim that as competition between subcontractors has intensified recently, their monthly salaries have fallen to the minimum wage level.

[Jo Hyun-chul / Samsung Electronics Subcontracted Worker: (Subcontracted workers) have clearly contributed, so we also feel a great sense of loss.]

At a government forum discussing the distribution of corporate excess profits, opinions were raised that it is desirable to distribute performance based on stakeholders who contributed to corporate growth, and that it should be institutionalized so that subcontract unions can negotiate bonuses with prime contractors.

[Jung Heung-jun / Professor of Business Administration at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (July 14, Forum): It would be good to have joint negotiations between prime and subcontractors and to discuss and set an appropriate level specifically for bonuses.]

On the other hand, the business sector maintains the position that excess profits should be used for future investment and strengthening industrial competitiveness, and that bonuses are a matter of management judgment.

(Video reporting: Lee Moo-jin, Kim Seung-tae | Video editing: Choi Jin-hwa)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.