The Minimum Wage Commission held its first deliberation on the 22nd to decide next year's minimum wage. This year's minimum wage has surpassed 10,000 won for the first time at 10,030 won, but the increase rate compared to the previous year is 1.7% (170 won), which is the second lowest in history.
The Minimum Wage Commission consists of a total of 27 members, with 9 each from labor, management, and public interest representatives. The labor and management sectors have not yet decided on the initial minimum wage demand.
During the deliberation, Ryu Gi-seop, secretary-general of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, argued, "Over the past two years, the minimum wage increase rates under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration have been 2.5% and 1.7%, respectively, and the damage caused by such low increases is currently being fully transmitted and accumulated among low-income vulnerable workers."
Additionally, Im Mi-sun, vice chair of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, stated, "Minimum wage should be expanded to include special employment workers and platform workers," and emphasized the need to completely eliminate blind spots.
In response, Ryu Gi-jeong, executive director of the Korea Enterprises Federation, remarked, "In recent years, the continued sluggishness of domestic demand has severely impacted small and medium enterprises and micro-businesses that have to pay the minimum wage," adding, "Especially in the accommodation and restaurant industries, the minimum wage exceeds 80% of the median wage, leaving no ability to withstand management difficulties."
Lee Myung-ro, head of the Human Resource Policy Division at the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises, noted, "The payment capabilities of small enterprises and micro-business owners have significantly worsened," stating that "this year's minimum wage needs to be determined at a reasonable level considering such situations."
The Minimum Wage Commission must decide on the minimum wage level by the end of June, within 90 days of receiving the Minister's request for deliberation. However, discussions generally continued until July.
The Minimum Wage Commission plans to hold the 2nd and 3rd plenary meetings on the 27th and 29th of next month, respectively, after reviewing by the professional committee and gathering opinions from the field.