LG Energy Solution to offer monthlong paid leave for detained workers

LG Energy Solution has decided to offer a monthlong paid leave for its employees and workers of its partners and subcontractors as they returned to Korea on Friday after spending a week in an immigration detention center in Georgia.

After the arrival of the 330 workers, of whom 264 work for the company and its related firms, LG Energy Solution said the paid leave will immediately take effect and last until the end of the Chuseok holiday, which ends on Oct. 9.

“First of all, we’re truly relieved and pleased that everyone has returned safely. There were certainly many challenges along the way, but I believe this positive outcome was made possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of our government officials,” LG Energy Solution CEO Kim Dong-myung told reporters as he arrived at the airport on the same flight as the workers boarded.

“In particular, I’m very grateful for the swift and exceptional resolution, and for the careful coordination to ensure that there would be no disadvantages upon re-entry. … As a company, we will do everything we can to ensure those who’ve returned are able to reintegrate smoothly.”

LG Energy Solution said it will provide medical checkups for the workers within four weeks of their arrival and cover for additional screening processes if necessary while offering a psychological therapy program for them.

LG Energy Solution has also assigned a manager to follow up with support for each of its own employees and those of its partners.

The battery maker reportedly paid about 1 billion won ($720,000) for the charter flight that carried the workers from the US. The company also offered vehicles and drivers for each of the returned workers and their family members to get to the airport and go home.

Hyundai Engineering is expected to provide similar care services for partner company workers who were detained.

The US authorities including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a large-scale immigration raid at the construction site of HL-GA, a joint battery manufacturing plant between Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution, in Ellabell, Georgia, on Sept. 4. The crackdown ended up detaining a total of 475 individuals, of whom 317 were Korean nationals. Seoul immediately began negotiating with Washington for the release of the workers.

As for the halted construction process at the battery plant, the LG Energy Solution CEO said the company will need to provide a more detailed update on that after internal review.

“We do have multiple plant sites, but based on current assessments, the delays are not as severe as some of the media reports may have suggested,” said Kim. “We believe the situation is manageable.”

He added that LG Energy Solution is looking into how to best align the comments and expectations from the US side, such as training US workers, with LG Energy Solution’s current workforce strategy and craft a thoughtful proposal that reflects both.

“We will communicate (with Hyundai Motor) and come up with the best possible solutions (in regards to visa issues),” said Kim.