[Asia Economy Reporter Seol Gina] SK Telecom, where the performance bonus controversy is spreading, has decided to provide 3 million welfare points to all employees for the Lunar New Year holiday. However, the labor union is opposing this, calling it a mere temporary measure.
According to SK Telecom on the 5th, the company announced the day before, "To contribute to economic revitalization during the Lunar New Year holiday period, we have decided to provide 3 million points to our members," adding, "This is both a consideration of last year's efforts by our members and a measure to stimulate the economy." The welfare points provided this time can be used like cash at group affiliates such as 11st Street and online malls, as well as convenience stores and restaurants affiliated with SK Pay.
This announcement came right after Park Jung-ho, CEO of SK Telecom, stated that he would "continue to expand communication with members" in response to recent complaints about performance bonuses. It was a response to a letter sent by the SK Telecom labor union, under the chairman's name, expressing dissatisfaction and concerns about the size of the performance bonuses to CEO Park.
The company explained that this measure is an annual incentive payment unrelated to the performance bonus controversy, but the union opposed it, calling it a temporary measure to suppress the controversy.
The union stated, "The company has ignored the union and members by proposing to provide 3 million points to all members just to avoid the immediate crisis," adding, "We cannot contain our anger at the company's complacent attitude that the controversy will disappear over time with this temporary measure."
The union plans to convene an emergency nationwide branch chiefs' meeting on the same day to review various struggle measures. Previously, the union had demanded the company to reconsider the size of the performance bonus, abolish the calculation criteria, and completely reform the payment method, as the majority of members do not receive the average amount.
SK Telecom began paying performance bonuses to employees on the same day. The payment amount was not disclosed.
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