The Korea Herald

지나쌤

BAT Korea settles wage hike

By 정주원

Published : Oct. 23, 2015 - 22:30

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BAT Korea CEO Guy Meldrum (front row, second from left) poses with union leaders from its Sacheon factory after signing a wage pact for the next three years at the firm’s Seoul headquarters Wednesday. (BAT Korea) BAT Korea CEO Guy Meldrum (front row, second from left) poses with union leaders from its Sacheon factory after signing a wage pact for the next three years at the firm’s Seoul headquarters Wednesday. (BAT Korea)


British American Tobacco Korea and the labor union at its Sacheon factory have reached an agreement on three-year salary negotiations without any hiccups, the tobacco manufacturer said Friday.

The agreement states the percentage of salary increase and adjustment in the calculation of wages. The exact numbers are being kept confidential, although the hike is not substantially more than last year, according to a BAT Korea spokesperson.

The signing ceremony took place on Thursday at the company’s Seoul headquarters. Sacheon factory union leader Koo Sung-il said, “The union has continuously made an effort to cultivate better relations with the management to minimize conflict, and to further the growth of the factory.”

BAT Korea’s CEO Guy Meldrum said the agreement would be a milestone in the factory’s sustainable growth and labor-management relationship, leading to more exports, stable employment conditions and more job opportunities.

BAT Korea’s Sacheon factory exports Korean-made products to 14 countries including Japan and Taiwan, and it has been continuously beating its record of exports volume. The factory’s export volume exceeded $50 million in 2013 and $70 million in 2014. By next year, it is expected to exceed $100 million.

Company officials said executives from BAT’s global headquarters, including the head of plant management operations, will be visiting the company and factory next week.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)