Samsung Electronics on Thursday proposed that its South Korean labour union resume pay talks after government-mediated negotiations fell apart, a union leader said, citing a letter from the company.
South Korea's Labour Commission also called on the two sides to hold another round of government-mediated talks on Saturday in a bid to avert a threatened lengthy strike.
"There is no reason to continue the dialogue without institutionalisation and transparency," union representative Choi Seung-ho said in response to the letter, referring to the union's demand for an overhaul of Samsung's bonus scheme.
Samsung Electronics was not immediately available for comment.
Angry over what it calls a massive gap in bonus pay with chipmaker SK Hynix, the union has planned an 18-day strike from May 21 if its demands are not met.
Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Thursday that a strike should be averted no matter what, saying it would be a significant risk to South Korea's economic growth, exports and markets.
The economy has become increasingly dependent on booming chip exports. Semiconductors accounted for 37% of the country's exports in April, up from 20% a year earlier, according to government data.
