University of Sussex
Browse
Campling_et_al-2019-British_Journal_of_Industrial_Relations.pdf (724.71 kB)

South Korea's automotive labour regime, Hyundai Motors’ global production network and trade-based integration with the European Union

Download (724.71 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 20:15 authored by Liam Campling, James Harrison, Ben Richardson, Adrian Smith, Mirela BarbuMirela Barbu
This article explores the interrelationship between global production networks(GPNs) and free trade agreements (FTAs) in the South Korean auto industry and its employment relations. It focuses on the production network of the Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) — the third biggest automobile manufacturer in the world — and the FTA between the EU and South Korea. This was the first of the EU’s ‘new generation’ FTAs, which among other things contained provisions designed to protect and promote labour standards. The article’s argument is twofold. First, that HMG’s production network and Korea’s political economy (of which HMG is a crucial part) limited the possibilities for the FTA’s labour provisions to take effect. Second, that the commercial provisions in this same FTA simultaneously eroded HMG’s domestic market and corporate profitability, leading to adverse consequences for auto workers in the more insecure and low-paid jobs. In making this argument, the article advances a multiscalar conceptualization of the labour regime as an analytical intermediary between GPNs and FTAs. It also provides one of the first empirical studies of the EU–South Korea FTA in terms of employment relations, drawing on 105 interviews with trade unions, employer associations, automobile companies and state officials across both parties.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Journal of Industrial Relations

ISSN

0007-1080

Publisher

Wiley

Volume

0

Page range

1-28

Department affiliated with

  • Management Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-01-20

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2020-01-20

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-01-17

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC