Source:
https://scmp.com/business/companies/article/1567408/strikes-aftermath-lower-yue-yuens-profits-us112m Companies
Strike's aftermath to lower Yue Yuen's profits by US$112m
Shoemaker Yue Yuen, whose customers include brand names such as Adidas, employs 45,000 people in its Gaobu factory. Photo: Bloomberg
Yue Yuen Industrial's profits in the first half will be hurt by US$112 million in costs arising from a week-long strike at its Gaobu factory in April and increased benefits for its workers following that strike.
The Taiwanese shoemaker said yesterday that including that loss, it would incur costs of US$194 million this year, the bulk of which would be due to provisions for and adjustments of employee benefit payments and monthly living allowances at the Gaobu factory and its other factories on the mainland.
The firm said US$112 million of the total costs would be reflected in the first-half results.
Yue Yuen was hit by another, brief strike at its Zhuhai factory late last month.
"The main reasons for making the employee benefit contributions are to assist the company in staff retention and recruitment under the increasingly competitive labour market conditions in China to ensure the company's normal business operation in the other factories," the firm said.
In April, workers went on strike in the Gaobu factory, which employs 45,000 people and accounts for 10 per cent of the company's production. The workers alleged social insurance contributions and their housing allowance were insufficient.
In the first quarter, Yue Yuen's net profit grew 13.9 per cent to US$70.2 million, on an increase of 7.3 per cent in revenue to US$1.83 billion. Operating revenue for the first half was US$3.95 billion.