Seoul: Hyundai Motor's union announced on Friday that its workers will extend partial strikes next week as they continue to push for higher wages, raising concerns over potential disruptions in production at South Korea's largest automaker. The decision comes after recent partial strikes, where employees from both day and night shifts walked off the job for four hours daily from Monday through Wednesday, following unsuccessful wage negotiations with the company, as stated by the union.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the union is planning to hold four-hour strikes during their respective shifts from Wednesday to next Friday, marking the third series of walkouts this year. Despite 15 rounds of wage negotiations, Hyundai and the union have been unable to reconcile their differences regarding pay. The union, which represents 40,000 members, is demanding a 149,600-won increase in monthly base pay and a performance-based bonus equal to 30 percent of the company's net profit from the previous year.

Hyundai Motor, known for producing Sonata sedans and Palisade SUVs, reported a net profit of 10.36 trillion won (approximately US$7.07 billion) last year. The company has proposed an 80,000-won increase in monthly base pay, a performance bonus equivalent to 350 percent of the monthly salary, an additional 10 million won, and 15 shares of company stock. However, the offer falls short of the union's demands, leading to the continued strike action.