ET Explainer: Why are South Korean Samsung workers protesting?

Thousands of Samsung Electronics workers initiated a three-day strike on Monday, led by the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), demanding improved wages, additional annual leave, and revisions to the company’s bonus system.

What are the union’s demands? The NSEU, representing nearly a quarter of the company’s South Korean workforce, advocates for an additional day of annual leave, specifically for unionised workers, alongside adjustments to Samsung’s bonus structure to ensure fairness and transparency. Union officials also expressed dissatisfaction with the current bonus calculations, where executives’ bonuses are tied to personal performance goals, in contrast to rank-and-file workers whose bonuses are determined differently.