POSCO, the nation’s top steelmaker, launched a new social enterprise named POSCO HUMANS on Wednesday after merging POSWITH and Poseco Housing, both of which were social enterprises under the steel group, POSCO HUMANS said in a press release.

“The merger deal came for synergy effect and management efficiency. The newly established social enterprise will focus on offering jobs for socially disadvantaged people, including disabled and multicultural family members,’’ the company said.

POSWITH, established in 2007, was a site for the disabled, doing businesses in cleaning or in office supporting service areas. About 52 percent of the company’s employees were physically challenged. 

Poseco Housing, established in 2009 as the group’s second social enterprise, attracted high attention by presenting a model social enterprise for sustainable growth. It has developed a steel-housing manufacturing business, while offering jobs for socially disadvantaged groups since its establishment in 2009. The number of those disadvantaged employees reached 55 percent of total employees.

With a merger between two social enterprises, POSCO HUMANS secured a more stable foundation for profit generation. The new company sets a goal of 33 billion won ($28 million) in sales this year and will increase the number of disadvantaged employees to 324 by 2015.

“POSCO HUMANS will continue to develop model activities as a representative social enterprise of POSCO,” a company official said.

By Seo Jee-yeon  (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)