Over 300 South Korean workers detained during an immigration raid on a car battery mill built by Hyundai and LG Energy in the U.S. state of Georgia, will be released and brought to the country, announced the South Korean government on Monday evening. South Korea is now planning to send employees by charter plane. Apparently, the raid wasn't the only one. Last week, raids were carried out not only at the mill being built, but besides at the Hyundai electrical car mill in this state. A full of 475 people were arrested working for South Korean companies or subcontractors.
It caused diplomatic tensions. Minister for abroad Affairs of South Korea Cho Hyun goes on Monday to United States. South Korean companies that plan large investments in the United States have besides expressed uncertainty.
According to press reports from South Korea, Hyundai Motor recommended his employees refrain from business trips to the US this week. Bloomberg It besides reports that LG Energy decided to postpone the start of the construction of a battery mill for electrical cars with Hyundai for next year. This is likely to affect Hyundai's production plans and its subsidiary Kia Corp.,citing reports from South Korean media.
Photos of restrained workers shock
At the end of last week, US immigration authorities announced the arrest of a full of 475 people – most South Korean citizens. Hundreds of national agents searched the Hyundai electrical car mill in Georgia and a construction site where Hyundai plans to produce batteries for electrical cars together with LG Energy.
Recording of workers handcuffed and ankles under the supervision of heavy armed officers of the Department of Homeland safety caused a shock in South Korea, a key U.S. ally. The operation was part of an extended US action against illegal workers and took place only 2 weeks after the president of South Korea Lee Jae Myung (61) and Donald Trump pressed for a trade agreement at the summit.
According to Bloomberg, The planned agreement includes a $350 billion fund to aid South Korean companies grow in the US. South Korean companies besides committed to investing $150 billion in the US in the form of direct investment.
LG Energy translates the start of production
On Monday, LG Energy announced that the company had postponed the start of production for next year due to the marketplace situation. It's besides early to know if the events of last week will affect the construction of the plant. A spokesperson for Hyundai Motor and Kia, as Bloomberg reports, said in an interview with a press agency that it is inactive besides early to measure the possible impact of the relocation of production on business. According to Bloomberg, the raid highlights the hazard to abroad companies, which trust on subcontractors, while their employees wait months for visas to the US.
Trump calls for US employees
U.S. president Donald Trump (79) called on abroad companies to comply with American immigration regulations on Monday. The Republican wrote on his online platform fact Social that they should besides hire and train American workers. "Your investments are welcome and we encourage you to legally employment your very intelligent people with advanced method skills who will make world-class products," Trump wrote. "In return, we anticipate you to hire and train American workers."
Even before the fresh raids on South Korean companies, any corporations became suspicious. In May, Samsung Electronics issued interior business travel guidelines to the US with short-stay visas. According to Bloomberg, they provided that staff trips should not exceed 2 weeks.
