More than 5,700 employees left Samsung Group in the first half after its five affiliates -- Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-mechanics, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung Engineering and Samsung C&T Corporation -- launched voluntary retirement schemes.

According to their semi-annual reports released on Thursday, the number of total employees of the five firms has reduced around 10 percent from 54,988 in December to 49,259 in June, this year. 


By affiliate, Samsung SDI, which has recently separated its chemical business, saw the largest job cuts. The number of the employees was down by 15 percent from 11,084 to 9,422. The big cuts came as the battery maker sold all of its chemical stakes to Lotte Chemical for 2.5 trillion won ($2.2 billion) early this year.

Samsung Heavy Industries, which is seeking a self-rescue plan worth 1.5 trillion won, lost 11.5 percent of its employees, now having 12,355. The ailing shipbuilder posted an operating loss of 283.7 billion won in the second quarter due mainly to the compensation given to the retirees.

Samsung Electro-mechanics, which implemented voluntary retirement scheme against the employees with 10 years’ seniority and above, also saw a 6.8 percent cut to 10,977. Last year, the electronics parts maker carried out a series of business reshuffles by selling its hard disk drive motor part and spinning off some of its least profitable businesses including power, tuner and electronic shelf label.

Samsung C&T Corporation also launched a voluntary retirement scheme mainly against its construction sector. In June, the construction and trading firm held its third briefing against all of the employees with manager positions and above. The number of its employees was reduced by 7.5 percent to 11,173.

As to Samsung Engineering, 5,332 employees were left with a 12.2 percent cut and Samsung Electronics had 95,420 following a 1.5 percent cut.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)