By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung Electronics is hoping for major progress in a new round of compensation talks that start on Thursday with several families of former employees who developed cancer.
A three-member mediation committee, led by former judge Kim Ji-hyung and two professors, said Tuesday it would talk with all interested parties on Dec. 18 ― the first time in 71 days.
"A new round of settlement talks has been set for 3 p.m. in Seoul," the committee said, adding that the main purpose of the meeting was to check requests and conditions before proceeding with the compensation talks.
Samsung confirmed that its negotiators would attend the meeting but declined to comment.
The compensation talks have so far been stalled because Banolim, a local advocacy group representing several families of former Samsung workers who died from leukemia, caused while they worked at Samsung plants, refused to join the mediation committee.
Samsung and other families of former Samsung workers agreed to resolve issues using the committee.
Banolim asked Samsung to list the chemicals it used, and demanded that the company send its workers for working condition checks.
"As Banolim has decided to join the talks, progress will be made," an official said.
The committee this week will discuss three main issues ― a further apology from Samsung Electronics, compensation and plans to improve the working conditions at Samsung manufacturing facilities.
But the committee's neutrality and impartiality is being questioned because Inha University Law School Prof. Jung Kang-ja and Seoul National University Prof. Baek Do-myeong are on it.
Samsung Electronics had questioned the panel's neutrality, but the company eventually accepted the makeup of the committee because its priority was to heal the wounds of affected families.
Samsung Electronics is hoping for major progress in a new round of compensation talks that start on Thursday with several families of former employees who developed cancer.
A three-member mediation committee, led by former judge Kim Ji-hyung and two professors, said Tuesday it would talk with all interested parties on Dec. 18 ― the first time in 71 days.
"A new round of settlement talks has been set for 3 p.m. in Seoul," the committee said, adding that the main purpose of the meeting was to check requests and conditions before proceeding with the compensation talks.
Samsung confirmed that its negotiators would attend the meeting but declined to comment.
The compensation talks have so far been stalled because Banolim, a local advocacy group representing several families of former Samsung workers who died from leukemia, caused while they worked at Samsung plants, refused to join the mediation committee.
Samsung and other families of former Samsung workers agreed to resolve issues using the committee.
Banolim asked Samsung to list the chemicals it used, and demanded that the company send its workers for working condition checks.
"As Banolim has decided to join the talks, progress will be made," an official said.
The committee this week will discuss three main issues ― a further apology from Samsung Electronics, compensation and plans to improve the working conditions at Samsung manufacturing facilities.
But the committee's neutrality and impartiality is being questioned because Inha University Law School Prof. Jung Kang-ja and Seoul National University Prof. Baek Do-myeong are on it.
Samsung Electronics had questioned the panel's neutrality, but the company eventually accepted the makeup of the committee because its priority was to heal the wounds of affected families.
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