Tackling Workforce Shortage in In-House Partner Companies
Establishing a 'Comprehensive Support Plan for Foreign Workers'
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries recently announced on the 30th that it has established a ‘Comprehensive Support Plan for Foreign Workers’ to help the increasing number of foreign workers from partner companies adapt to life in Korea.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries explained, "To resolve the manpower shortage in partner companies, it is important not only to recruit foreign workers but also to create an environment where they can settle early by preparing various support measures closely related to their daily lives."
In the case of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, since November last year, about 580 technical workers with E-7 and E-9 visas who entered from countries such as Thailand have been employed at partner companies. They plan to secure an additional 1,500 workers by the end of this year.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries first established a dedicated department called the ‘Win-Win Growth Workforce Support Department.’ This department is responsible for supporting foreign workers to settle early in Korea and company life by handling ▲foreign workforce supply ▲settlement support ▲safety management support ▲administrative support ▲interpretation and grievance counseling.
To this end, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has established and is operating the industry’s first ‘Foreign Support Center’ within the company to provide close support to foreign workers. Interpreters fluent in eight languages are active, assisting communication for foreign workers throughout the workplace.
Additionally, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries provides dormitories for all foreign workers and, since January this year, offers global menus and convenience foods for those who do not prefer Korean food or cannot eat certain ingredients due to religious reasons.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has expanded hands-on and experiential safety training so that foreign workers can internalize the ‘Safety First’ culture. To support industrial safety education and early settlement for foreign workers, they signed a ‘Business Agreement for Win-Win Support of Foreign Workers in the Shipbuilding Industry’ with the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, strengthening safety management.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries regularly conducts skill assessments and refresher training for foreign workers at partner companies and is thoroughly enhancing technical capabilities by strengthening qualification exam management for fitting and welding. To alleviate foreign workers’ homesickness and promote intercultural harmony, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to organize various cultural events in cooperation with local governments.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, a shipbuilding affiliate of HD Hyundai, is also implementing support measures at the same level as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to recruit foreign workers and plans to secure an additional 700 foreign skilled workers by the end of the year.
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