Samsung chip workers to receive average $340,000 bonus amid AI boom

Samsung Electronics has agreed to pay its chip division workers an average bonus of 340,000 dollars each, following a last-minute deal with its union that averted an 18-day strike. The payout pool totals 26.6 billion dollars, fueled by soaring profits from artificial intelligence-related semiconductor demand. The agreement underscores the escalating value of skilled labor in the AI chip sector, where Samsung competes with TSMC and SK Hynix. The bonus is significantly higher than previous years, reflecting the company's record earnings in 2024 driven by AI chip sales. The union had demanded a larger share of profits, leading to tense negotiations that nearly disrupted production at key facilities in South Korea.