Samsung Biologics strike enters 5th day, ₩640bn damage feared
Synopsis
Samsung Biologics is facing its first-ever general strike — now in its fifth day — with 2,800 workers walking out over a 14% pay demand the company has flatly resisted. With ₩640 billion in potential damages on the line and talks deadlocked, the dispute threatens to dent one of South Korea's most critical pharmaceutical contract manufacturers.
Key Takeaways
Samsung Biologics workers entered the fifth day of their first-ever general strike on 5 May 2025 .
Around 2,800 of 4,000 union members are participating in the walkout.
Workers demand a 14% pay hike , a ₩30 million one-time bonus per worker, and bonuses equal to 20% of annual operating profit.
The company has offered only a 6.2% combined increase in base and performance pay.
The company warns the strike could cause at least ₩640 billion in damage — about half of its first-quarter sales.
The union plans to shift to a work-to-rule campaign from Wednesday after wrapping up the five-day strike.
Unionised workers at Samsung Biologics, the biotech arm of Samsung Group, continued their first-ever general strike into a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, 5 May, with both sides failing to reach an agreement despite resuming talks the previous day. The walkout, which began on Friday, marks the first strike since the company's establishment in 2011, according to Yonhap news agency.
Scale of the Walkout
Approximately 2,800 of the union's 4,000 members have participated in the collective action, according to the company's labour union. The five-day general strike is set to conclude on Tuesday, after which the union plans to shift to a work-to-rule campaign beginning Wednesday — a tactic that involves employees performing only the bare minimum required by their contracts, without any voluntary overtime or extra effort.
What Workers Are Demanding
The unionised workers are pressing for a 14 percent increase in base pay and performance-related pay, a one-time cash incentive of ₩30 million (approximately US$20,390) per worker, and bonuses equivalent to 20 percent of the company's annual operating profit. In contrast, Samsung Biologics has proposed a combined 6.2 percent increase in base and performance pay — a figure the union has rejected as inadequate.
Talks Stall, Damage Mounts
The two sides resumed negotiations on Monday but failed to bridge their differences. They are scheduled to hold two more meetings later this week in a bid to narrow the gap. Notably, during the first arbitration meeting held last week, the labour union reportedly demanded that the company replace all of its bargaining committee members as a prerequisite for resuming formal talks — a condition the company described as unreasonable.
This comes after unionised workers staged a three-day partial strike last month, which the company said caused losses of at least ₩150 billion (approximately US$101.5 million). The company now claims the ongoing walkout could cause at least ₩640 billion in damage — roughly equivalent to half of the company's first-quarter sales.
Company's Position
A company source stated,
Point of View
But the real sticking point appears to be trust: demanding a full replacement of the bargaining committee before talks even begin signals a breakdown that goes beyond numbers. South Korea's broader wave of labour assertiveness in chaebol-linked firms makes this a test case — how Samsung Biologics resolves this will be watched closely by other conglomerates navigating post-pandemic wage pressures.
NationPress
6 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Samsung Biologics workers on strike?
Workers are demanding a 14% increase in base and performance pay, a one-time cash bonus of ₩30 million per worker, and bonuses equal to 20% of annual operating profit. The company has offered only a 6.2% combined pay increase, leading to a deadlock.
Is this the first strike in Samsung Biologics history?
Yes. The general strike that began on Friday marks the first strike since Samsung Biologics was established in 2011, making it a significant milestone in the company's labour history.
How much financial damage has the strike caused?
The company claims the ongoing walkout could cause at least ₩640 billion in damage, roughly equivalent to half of its first-quarter sales. A three-day partial strike last month had already caused losses of at least ₩150 billion (approximately US$101.5 million).
What happens after the five-day strike ends?
After wrapping up the five-day general strike on Tuesday, the union plans to shift to a work-to-rule campaign from Wednesday, where workers perform only the minimum duties required under their contracts.
Are there ongoing talks between Samsung Biologics and the union?
Yes. The two sides resumed talks on Monday but failed to reach an agreement. They are scheduled to hold two more meetings later this week to try to narrow their differences.
