SK Hynix and one of its South Korean labour unions held a fifth round of negotiations on Tuesday over employee bonus payments, as both sides continued efforts to resolve differences over how workers should be rewarded after the company's record financial performance.The discussions are taking place at SK Hynix's semiconductor complex in Cheongju.The talks come as the memory chipmaker continues to benefit from strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips.While the company has enjoyed record earnings, disagreements over whether bonuses should be paid in cash or company shares have delayed an agreement between management and the union.Key Highlights SK Hynix and union continue talks over AI driven employee bonuses Bonus payment dispute continues as SK Hynix posts record AI profits SK Hynix labour talks focus on cash versus stock bonus paymentsDisagreement Over Bonus StructureAt the centre of the discussions is SK Hynix's proposal to pay a significant portion of employee bonuses in company shares instead of cash. According to the union, more than half of the annual bonus would be issued as stock, with employees required to hold the shares for a certain period before selling them.The union has rejected the proposal, saying workers should receive their bonuses in cash. It argues that employees should not have to depend on future share prices to benefit from the company's strong performance. Many workers also believe the restrictions on selling the shares would limit their ability to use the money when they need it.The dispute follows an earlier agreement under which SK Hynix committed to sharing operating profit with employees. With demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips surging because of AI applications, the company has reported record profits, making this year's bonus one of the largest in its history.Although both sides have met several times, they have yet to reach common ground. The fifth round of negotiations shows that management and the union remain committed to finding a solution through discussions rather than allowing the dispute to escalate.AI Success Raises Employee ExpectationsSK Hynix has become one of the biggest winners from the rapid growth of AI infrastructure. The company supplies advanced memory chips used in AI servers and data centres, helping it achieve strong revenue and profit growth over the past year.As the business continues to expand, employees are seeking a larger share of the company's success. The union believes workers should receive immediate financial rewards for their contribution, while the company says offering part of the bonus in shares would encourage long-term ownership and align employee interests with the company's future growth.Industry observers say the outcome of these talks could influence how other South Korea semiconductor industry companies structure employee compensation, particularly as competition for skilled semiconductor professionals continues to increase.The negotiations also highlight a broader trend across the technology sector, where companies are balancing record earnings with growing expectations from employees for better performance-based rewards.Also Read: NTT Data to Invest $9.6 Billion in Japan Data Center Expansion PlanNo agreement was announced after Tuesday's meeting, and further discussions are expected if both sides fail to settle the issue. The outcome will be closely watched by investors, employees and the wider semiconductor industry, as SK Hynix works to maintain strong labour relations while continuing to benefit from the global AI boom.