Both of us are opposed to restructuring over the reorganization of telecommunications
||2024.10.15
The three telecom service providers are focusing on reorganizing their saturated communications areas. While mobile service providers each choose artificial intelligence (AI) as the key keyword for de-communications and explain that it is an inevitable trend, some insiders are protesting the move, calling it a "restructuring."
According to related industries on the 15th, SK Telecom (SKT), KT, and LG Uplus are all losing their strength in the telecommunications sector this year.
KT is one of the largest telecom service providers in the world. KT has reorganized its telecommunications service providers of some 6,000 workers, including network maintenance and opening, under its regional headquarters. Its 4,400-strong workforce, which is responsible for customer opening, has been assigned to KTOSP (tentative name). The 420 workers, who are in charge of maintenance, will be transferred to KTP&M (tentative name). 170 of its customer counseling service providers will be transferred to KTIS or KTCS, while 760 workers, which are in charge of commercial business, will reportedly be abolished.
KT plans to carry out special voluntary retirement for those who do not want to move to the company. The company cited "successful transition to artificial intelligence + information and communication technology (AICT) companies" and "need to streamline management to secure competitive advantage" as the purpose of implementing the manpower restructuring plan.
KT's labor union strongly opposed the restructuring, saying it is opposed to the restructuring. The union has expressed its intention to start a vigil soon. KT's new labor union, a minority labor union, is demanding that the restructuring of its workforce, which is unilaterally pursued by the management, be immediately stopped.
In September, SK Telecom significantly increased the amount of incentives it was paying to employees who joined its retirement program "Next Career" from 50 million won to 300 million won. Some in the industry say that SK Telecom may also be tightening its belt in line with SK Group's demand for job cuts.
SK Telecom explained, "Next Career is designed to support members' second life preparation after retirement as the working age is increasing in line with the aging trend. They say it has nothing to do with restructuring.
The company said, "As the name implies, it is a 'welfare program' that helps employees in the second act of their lives, and has a different purpose from 'honorary retirement' or 'desired retirement' in order to reduce the number of employees," adding, "It is a kind of leave system that can only be used by employees aged 50 to 56 for more than 25 years of service in the first place."
LG U+ started reorganizing its offline sales organization in February this year. Its main purpose is to reduce the number of retail direct stores by up to 25 percent, which is around 130 stores, while hiring more employees to work at retail direct stores. It also expressed its willingness to implement a start-up support system for employees subject to personnel management, and some 100 employees participated in the program.
Trade unions are protesting, saying, "Unlike large retailers with a high proportion of sales management, the move to retail direct stores, where consumer-facing sales are the main business, is actually restructuring."
LG U+ explained, "We presented cards such as changing office jobs, staying in sales jobs, and starting a business as a target of personnel transfer this time," adding, "It is not trying to send people out, but it is a system that was originally there."
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