Hyundai unions warn against humanoid robots

The Hyundai trade union in South Korea opposes plans to implement humanoid robots without employee consent. According to the union, automation could lead to job cuts and worsen workplace safety in the company's domestic plants. The union has issued an internal letter warning management against introducing humanoid robots into factories without an agreement with the workforce, stating that new technologies could cause an "employment shock" and are seen as a tool to reduce headcount. This reaction followed the conglomerate's announcement about using humanoid robots from 2028, which was met positively by investors and boosted Hyundai's stock to record levels, but for workers, it means risks to employment structure. The union stresses that no robots using new technologies should be allowed in plants without a formal agreement with management, accusing the company of prioritizing profitability at the expense of labor. In early January, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled the production version of the Atlas humanoid robot, developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, and announced plans to build a factory capable of producing 30,000 robots annually by 2028, with initial deployments at its Georgia, USA plant. The company has not yet commented on the union's position