[Reporter’s Notebook] Chairman Visits Family of Quadruplets

Choi Jung-woo, chairman of POSCO Group, recently visited the home of an employee at the Pohang Steelworks who is raising quadruplets. This came shortly after the government announced expanded infertility support as part of its low birthrate policy. Chairman Choi gave pocket money and a stroller for the babies. Last year, he also gifted a 9-seater van when the children were born. The fact that Chairman Choi visited the home became known after the mother of the twins posted photos and videos on social media (SNS).

While Chairman Choi’s genuine concern for in-house welfare is impressive, there is a noticeable difference in attitude toward the welfare conditions of subcontracted workers within the company. The ‘POSCO In-house Subcontracted Workers’ Issues Meeting’ held on the 5th at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building was a forum of complaints. About ten POSCO in-house subcontracted employees gathered there said in unison, "We are being threatened that welfare funds will only be provided if we withdraw the lawsuit to confirm POSCO worker status," and "We worry about facing other disadvantages if we continue the lawsuit." Some even feared they might lose their jobs altogether.

In 2021, POSCO established the ‘Joint Labor Welfare Fund’ to promote mutual growth with subcontractors. They contributed 11.2 billion KRW to support the tuition fees of subcontracted employees’ children. However, POSCO has not been providing this fund to subcontracted employees who have filed lawsuits to confirm their worker status. The company’s reasoning is that since it is unclear whether these employees are POSCO workers or employees of partner companies, the fund cannot be paid.

However, Kim Dong-jun, a certified labor attorney at Jungang Law Firm, stated, "Even if subcontracted employees ultimately win the lawsuit and are effectively employed by POSCO, until then, they are still partner company employees, so there is absolutely no problem in receiving tuition support for their children." The Ministry of Employment and Labor also issued a corrective order to POSCO to include these employees as beneficiaries and imposed a fine of 1.5 million KRW. Nevertheless, POSCO appealed and filed a lawsuit against this.

The issue of executing the in-house subcontracted welfare fund is difficult to resolve without a decision from Chairman Choi. While the company emphasizes employee welfare and coexistence with partner companies, at the same time, it strictly limits the beneficiaries of the subcontractor welfare fund and even files counter-lawsuits, drawing criticism and raising eyebrows. It is hoped that Chairman Choi will sit down and talk with subcontracted workers just as he did when visiting the quadruplets’ home and meeting the children face to face.