[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

“‘Like a prison’: Allegations of labour exploitation surface at Polish construction site run by Korean company Hyundai Engineering”, 22 June 2025

Allegations have emerged surrounding exploitative labour conditions at a construction site in Poland operated by South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering. Although the issue was first reported by the Polish press over a year ago—prompting a full investigation by local labour authorities—it has only recently come to public attention in South Korea.

The renewed scrutiny follows controversy over a separate project in the Czech Republic, where local media criticised Daewoo E&C for allegedly planning to house workers in overcrowded “concentration camp-like” conditions. The publication referenced past cases involving Korean firms in Eastern Europe, including the Hyundai Engineering site in Poland.

…Workers reportedly lived in cramped and unsanitary conditions, with testimonies describing their situation as “like a prison”—marked by constant surveillance, verbal abuse from Korean managers shouting “quickly, quickly,” and overflowing toilets emitting unbearable odours. One worker said, “We work and sleep, work and sleep. At the entrance, security guards search our belongings.”

Hyundai Engineering acknowledged that the Polish media reports were accurate and claimed that all issues were addressed following the investigation. A company representative stated that the subcontractor in question had been removed and that conditions at both official and external accommodation facilities were improved. However, when asked for details on the corrective measures, back pay, or the status of official housing, the company said only that “we were informed that everything has been resolved.”