Mahindra doesn't rule out rehiring of workers

By Park Jin-hai

Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group which owns Ssangyong Motor, said Tuesday that the company will consider rehiring workers who were fired five years ago.

However, he linked the rehiring to the performance of the automaker.

“We believe in sharing prosperity. That is the philosophy of Mahindra Group. But, in order to share prosperity, you must create it first,” said Mahindra who visited here to celebrate the release of Ssanyong Motor’s first compact SUV, the Tivoli.

"If the Tivoli is successful and the turnaround of Ssangyong is successful, then I assure you that when the time comes and the need comes for fresh recruitment, we will certainly recruit the people who lost jobs in 2009," he added.

Some former workers representing 150 fired workers are staging protests at the company’s factory in Pyeongtaek, with two even perched on top of a 70-meter chimney at the site. The union composed of the fired workers had asked for talks with Mahindra prior to his visit.

The union has been protesting against a recent Supreme Court ruling that the mass layoff by the company in 2009 was lawful. It has said that the protest will not end until management agrees to reinstate the laid-off workers.

Last weekend, the former workers staged a protest in Seoul by crawling along the streets.

Mahindra, however, hinted that there would not be any quick remedy to resolving the issue related to the ongoing protest.

“It would be irresponsible if I made a short-term decision, and reacted to short-term pressure, jeopardizing the job security of almost 5,000 people in the long run,” he said.

“My priority has been the survival of Ssangyong and the protection of the jobs of 4,800 people who are working, as well as the wellbeing of more than 100,000 suppliers and dealers," he said.

On the same date as the Tivoli’s launch, supportive messages for the dismissed Ssanyong workers came from a variety of sources.

K-pop singer Lee Hyo-ri left a comment on her Twitter directed at the Mahindra chairman; under a photo of her practicing yoga she said, “Hello ~ I am hyori, I’m a singer in Korea, I am thinking of you, I am doing yoga today. Please give them the love from your own country, India.”

A lawmaker of the minor opposition Justice Party Sim Sang-jung delivered a letter to the chairman pleading for the workers’ reinstatement that said, “These people are not the ones who stood against the company’s policy, but who wanted to live along with the company.”

She added that a 1 trillion won investment in the development of a new car is important, but what should precede that is an investment in people and in trust.

During the launch event, Chairman Mahindra highlighted that the 2011 takeover of Ssangyong Motor was not a short-term investment to obtain technology, but a long-term commitment to the company’s development.

"It was not just a portfolio investment. It was not to acquire technology. We believe in the future of Ssangyong, and we are here for the long term. Temporary obstacles’ cannot affect our faith in Ssangyong," he said.

Mahindra said that Ssangyong has a strong brand known for excellent quality, adding that it will help the company to raise its flag around the world.