Hyundai workers protest against carmaker's new human-like robot deployment
An International Labour Organisation (ILO) director has underscored the need for employees to acquire new skills amid ongoing pushback from Hyundai Motor's union over the carmaker's plan to deploy humanoid robots.
Lee Sang-heon, director of the ILO's Employment Policy Department, described the union's stance as a "typical bargaining tactic."
"The strategy itself is not surprising, but for workers, finding ways to coexist with robots is a more practical approach," Lee told The Korea Times on the sidelines of the Global Labour Market Conference in Saudi Arabia.
According to The Korea Times, the ILO director urged the union to focus on creating a "virtuous cycle" through optimal redeployment of redundant staff after full automation.
"The easiest way might be to keep paying workers for doing nothing, but that would eventually eliminate jobs for the next generation," he said.
"Even older workers should learn new skills so they can protect skilled positions in the long run."
Hyundai's robot faces union pushback
Lee's remarks come as Hyundai introduced a new human-like robot earlier this month that it plans to deploy to its factories worldwide starting in 2028.
The carmaker said the robot, named Atlas, is capable of navigating complex industrial environments, performing repetitive tasks, and leveraging AI-driven learning to quickly adapt to new roles.
"Its mechanical design enables dynamic movement, ensuring it can operate in spaces traditionally suited to humans," Hyundai said in a media release.
Hyundai Motor's union in South Korea has expressed concerns that the planned introduction of the robot is aimed at cutting labour costs.
"Under no circumstances will workers welcome the plan, as the robot deployment will bring a huge employment shock," warned the union in another report from The Korea Times.
"The union warns that not a single robot can be deployed at worksites without an agreement between the union and management."
But Lee downplayed the idea that robots would make workers obsolete, stressing that the company will still need skilled employees to maintain and update the machines, The Korea Times reported.
The field of humanoid robotics is expanding rapidly worldwide as more organisations in the warehousing and manufacturing industries adopt them, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
The IFR previously said that close cooperation with employees in implementing robots at work will play a crucial role in ensuring acceptance at worksites.
