South Korea's shipbuilding industry faces major disruption as the unions at the major shipyards, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, and Samsung Heavy Industries, prepare for strikes this month.
At the yards, union members have unanimously voted to strike in August after failing to reach a wage agreement over pay packages.
The potential labour disruptions threaten to dampen the long awaited boom in the shipbuilding industry, primarily driven by increased orders for gas carriers.
South Korea has faced a severe labour shortage in recent years, driven by a surge in new shipbuilding orders and an ageing population.
To address this, the government increased the annual quota for skilled worker visas last year and established training and recruitment partnerships with neighbouring countries, leading to an increase in foreign workers within the shipbuilding sector.
