HYUNDAI MOTOR CO, SOUTH KOREA'S SECOND-LARGEST CONGLOMERATE, SAID THURSDAY THAT IT HAS HALTED ITS EXPORTS BECAUSE OF CONTINUING STRIKES AT ITS DOMESTIC PLANTS, DPA REPORTED. WHILE THE WORK STOPPAGES HAVE COST THE AUTOMAKER MORE THAN 1 BILLION WON (1 MILLION DOLLARS) IN LOST PRODUCTION, THE HALT TO THE EXPORTS WAS NO CAUSE FOR "IMMEDIATE CONCERN" BECAUSE HYUNDAI, AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, HAD FILLED ITS WAREHOUSES WORLDWIDE WITH A SUPPLY THAT WOULD LAST FOR THREE MONTHS, A HYUNDAI SPOKESMAN SAID IN SEOUL. WORK AT HYUNDAI'S DOMESTIC FACTORIES HAVE STOPPED FOR SEVERAL HOURS EVERY DAY SINCE JUNE 26 AS THE UNION FOR THE AUTOMAKER'S WORKERS DEMANDS PAY RAISES OF 9.1 PER CENT, IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS AND A VOICE IN COMPANY DECISIONS. HYUNDAI HAS OFFERED RAISES OF 4.4 PER CENT BUT REJECTED THE DEMAND FOR PARTICIPATION IN COMPANY DECISION, CALLING IT "MEDDLING" INTO MANAGEMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. WORKERS AT HYUNDAI'S SISTER FIRM OF KIA MOTORS, ALSO BEGAN WORK STOPPAGES OF SEVERAL HOURS ON TUESDAY TO PRESS FOR THEIR CALLS FOR WAGE INCREASES.
