Chennai, Nov 17 (IANS) Hyundai Motor India's new managing director and chief executive Han Woo Park as well as workers are hoping for cordial industrial relations at the company's two plants near here.

'We have signed a new wage agreement with the workers valid till 2012,' Park said in his first interaction with the media here Tuesday after assuming his new role.

'We will open up the communication channels with workers. Some misguided elements are creating worker related problems.'

Union leaders said they too were looking forward to a cordial relationship with the management.

'The new MD and CEO has been working here for the past seven years and knows the conditions very well. He is soft-natured. We are hoping for cordial working conditions to prevail at the factory,' said Hyundai Motor India Employees Union general secretary Y.S. Chinnaraja.

A few months ago, Hyundai India witnessed serious labour problems over wage revision and dismissal of workers, which resulted in a workers' strike.

Around 6,150 workers - comprising of 1,650 permanent workers, 2,500 contract labourers and 2,000 apprentices - are employed at the company's two plants.

The workers also expect the company to regularise some contract labourers.