Reports in the Korean press said today that the LG Semicon strikers in the peninsula have returned to work after they were given guarantees of two years' employment and a "special bonus" of six months payment.

That means that the merger is now likely to go ahead by next weekend, according to local English language newspaper The Korea Herald. Yesterday, the striking workers agreed to go back to work after the payment and their continued employment was guaranteed.

No information was available as to how such a deal would affect UK workers at LG Semicon in Newport at press time. ®