Kia Slovakia Signs New Collective Agreement with Trade Union

Teplicka nad Vahom, 24 April (TASR) - Kia Slovakia has signed a new collective bargaining agreement with the local branch of the KOVO Trade Union at Kia Zilina, the automaker's spokesperson Tomas Potocek has told TASR, adding that after several months of negotiations, both parties on Friday signed a collective agreement effective for three years. Potocek noted that the agreement addresses employee demands, providing salary increases, enhanced benefits and stability for the coming years. "The new agreement guarantees production employees an average increase in base pay of 5.5 percent in 2026. In the following two years, the basic pay of production employees will increase by an average of 5.6 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively. The collective agreement also regulates salary growth for administrative posts. This year, their salaries will increase by an average of 7.5 percent, and in 2027 and 2028 by 5.7 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively," said Potocek. The agreement also includes additional measures to support employees, including special bonuses, an increase in the variable portion of salaries, adjustments to physical strain allowances, and higher contributions to severance pay and supplemental pension savings. The rules for merit-based leave have also been clarified, and one additional day of leave has been added. According to the spokesman, the new collective agreement takes into account economic realities, developments in the automotive industry and the need for long-term job stability. "The result of the negotiations is an agreement that demonstrates that Kia Slovakia takes its employees' demands seriously. Our goal was to find a solution that is fair to the people who create value for the company, while also being responsible in terms of the plant's future. We view the signing of the new collective agreement as an important step towards maintaining the stability and competitiveness of Kia Slovakia, even during this challenging period of transformation for the automotive industry," said president and CEO of Kia Slovakia Hyoung Dong Song. am/df