The group also elevated oversight of labor relations to the president level, naming Kia President Choi Jun-young as the new chief of the policy development office, the group's top labor post, according to industry sources on Wednesday.
The reshuffle follows the March enactment of the so-called Yellow Envelope Law, a revision to articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act that broadens the scope of lawful industrial action and has heightened the threat of walkouts at Hyundai's affiliates.
The Korea Metal Workers' Union has since demanded direct bargaining with Hyundai Motor, Mobis and three other affiliates over the wages and conditions of subcontractor staff, a push that analysts warn could feed into parts costs and chip away at the group's global cost competitiveness.
Sending Jeong, a policy development veteran, to Mobis may reflect the group's drive to contain labor flare-ups at parts units before they ripple into assembly-line stoppages at the carmaker, sources said.
"The personnel order has not been formally issued, so we are not in a position to confirm the matter at this time," said a Hyundai Mobis spokesperson when asked for confirmation.
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