“30만명 생존권 달렸다”…홈플러스 노조, 납품업체에 채권 분할상환 동의 호소

The Homeplus General Workers Union has urged suppliers to agree to a divided repayment of their bonds as the company seeks court approval for a rescue plan. Legal experts warn that a low rate of supplier agreement could lead to mass layoffs and a chain reaction of damage if the rescue plan is not approved. The public bonds are debts that must be repaid at priority if the rescue proceedings proceed, regardless of the outcome.

The union announced on the 26th that it is calling on the 1,267 cooperating suppliers to actively participate in divided repayment of the public bonds. Currently, the agreement rate among suppliers stands at around 30%. The union also revealed that the survival rights of roughly 30,000 employees, store owners, and linked cooperating firms are dependent on the approval of the rescue plan.

If the bond agreement rate remains low, the court may consider the financial burden too high and may deny the rescue plan. The total amount of unpaid supplier bonds is estimated at approximately 79.39 trillion won as of the end of May. Homeplus is also requesting postponed payments for employee salaries and retirement benefits, with a 75% agreement rate among workers.

To cope with the situation, Homeplus plans to resume normal business operations through sales recovery. The company is currently offering its products, from Korean pork and beef to eggs and various snacks, at up to 50% discounts during its third 'Homeplus is back' special sale event, running from the 27th to the 30th.