Ulsan labor panel orders Hyundai Motor to post bargaining notice for subcontracted workers

The Ulsan Regional Labor Relations Commission has upheld a correction petition demanding that Hyundai Motor Co. post a public notice of a bargaining request filed by workers in its subcontracting supply chain.

The ruling is widely interpreted as an effective recognition of Hyundai Motor's employer status in relation to subcontracted workers, and is expected to reignite tensions over bargaining rights between primary contractors and their subcontractors.

According to labor circles, the Ulsan Regional Labor Relations Commission issued an "accepted" ruling Monday in the case titled "Correction petition regarding the posting of a bargaining request notice — Hyundai Motor Co. (primary-subcontractor)" (Case No. 2026교섭16).

The case arose after the Korean Metal Workers' Union, which represents workers employed by Hyundai Motor's in-house subcontractors, demanded direct negotiations with Hyundai Motor. When the company declined to post the required public notice of the bargaining request, the union filed the correction petition.

Under the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, an employer must publicly post notice of any bargaining request made by a union. If the employer fails to do so, the union may file a correction petition with the labor relations commission.

The commission's decision is expected to bolster the labor community's argument that Hyundai Motor holds employer status in negotiations with subcontracted workers. The case is particularly notable as one of the first to arise under the revised Articles 2 and 3 of the act, which took effect in March this year and broadened the scope of primary contractors' bargaining obligations.

The Korean Metal Workers' Union issued a statement Monday saying, "Workers' claims have been proven correct, and Hyundai Motor's arguments have been exposed as sophistry," and urged the company to "immediately comply with the correction order and proceed with the bargaining channel unification process."

The union also urged Hyundai Steel, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Wia and other Hyundai Motor Group affiliates to engage in primary-contractor bargaining, saying the group as a whole must come to the table for negotiations covering indirectly employed workers.

However, the ruling addresses only whether the bargaining request notice was properly posted, and further legal disputes over the full scope of bargaining obligations and employer status recognition are likely to follow.

The commission's detailed written decision is to be delivered to the parties at a later date.

Hyundai Motor said it would "comprehensively review the matter upon receipt of the written decision and carefully explore a response in accordance with legal procedures and regulations."