No link found between diseases, working environment
SK hynix to take wider compensatory measures for employees suffering illnesses
SK hynix, the semiconductor affiliate of SK Group, said Wednesday that it will compensate workers who have suffered from occupational diseases, though it added no clear evidence had been found to prove a link between the working environment and certain illnesses.
The nation’s second-largest chipmaker said that it will pay compensation not just to its current and retired workers, but those from the company’s subcontractors who have experienced any diseases linked to working conditions in the semiconductor business, as part of its drive to realize corporate social responsibility.
This came about a year after the company formed a special committee to investigate whether its working environment had any links to diseases contracted by workers on the production line. To retain objectivity, the committee had seven external experts and four representatives from management and labor.
“All of the seven experts from the medical and legal circles unanimously concluded that there was no clear link between the diseases and work- ing conditions,” said Jang Jae-yeon, the head of the committee, who is a professor of medicine at Ajou University, during a press conference at Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Wednesday.
“For now, it is very hard to prove that working conditions at chip production factories cause deadly diseases including leukemia or other rare types of cancer,” he said. “We also concluded that it is almost impossible to put an end to the controversy over the issue.”
SK hynix said the company will extend coverage of the compensation regardless of the result of the committee’s year-long investigation.
The company said in a statement, “We have decided to offer compensation for all workers who have suffered from serious diseases including brain tumors, leukemia, and other forms of cancer.”
The company made the decision to establish a social climate where companies are willing to compensate employees who have contracted fatal diseases while working.
Compensatory measures
In Korea, it is very tough for workers to receive insurance benefits due to the difficulty in determining the relationship between occupational health and the working environment, according to the committee.
“No legal systems have been established to deal with issues regarding the work-related diseases, which is why SK hynix seeks to set an example by providing appropriate compensation for our workers,” the company said.
Any workers with diseases or bereaved family members can apply for compensation, SK hynix said. The committee will then discuss the scope of compensation for each worker, setting an upper limit for each disease.
The company also pledged to increase investment in safety infrastructure at its manufacturing facilities in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. SK hynix previously announced it has allocated some 123 billion won ($175 million) this year to upgrade safety in the two production lines. The company said it will increase the amount by 10 percent each year by 2017 to improve the working environment for its employees.
It also plans to double the number of safety control staff to 80 by the end of next year.
The committee suggested that the company equip itself with better systems in 127 areas — including chemical substances management, working conditions and employee welfare. The company said it will make all-out efforts to reflect all the suggested points to set a new paradigm in safety management.
In June 2014, a local report called for the company to be more responsible in taking care of its workers who have suffered from any work-related diseases. Following the report, SK hynix CEO Park Sung-wook said he would form a committee for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.