Democratic Labor Union Ultimately Declares Suspension of Minimum Wage Discussions... Labor Sector's 'Partial' Participation

Democratic Labor Union Holds Press Conference Declaring Meeting Boycott
"Tilted Playing Field... Dialogue with Employers Impossible"
Labor Likely to Be Disadvantaged in Minimum Wage Decision Vote

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a major force in the labor sector, has declared a suspension of deliberations on next year's minimum wage. The reason is that the management side has not withdrawn its proposal to cut the minimum wage. The KCTU refused to engage in discussions, calling it an "already tilted playing field."

On the 13th at 8 p.m., four worker representatives recommended by the KCTU within the Minimum Wage Commission held a press conference at the Ministry of Employment and Labor press room in the Government Sejong Complex. Earlier that day, from 2 p.m., the KCTU held a Central Executive Committee meeting in front of the complex to discuss whether to attend the Minimum Wage Commission. After six hours of discussion, they reached a final decision to not participate in the meeting.

Yoon Taek-geun, Vice Chairman of the KCTU, said at the press conference, "We asked the employer side to withdraw the cut proposal and seek ways to live together with workers, but there was no response."

Previously, the public interest members of the Minimum Wage Commission proposed a deliberation facilitation range for next year's minimum wage between 8,620 won and 9,110 won (an increase rate of 0.35% to 6.1%) to narrow the gap between labor and management. They requested both sides to submit a second revised proposal based on this range.

However, the KCTU declared a boycott of the meeting, stating there was no change in the employer representatives' stance. Vice Chairman Yoon said, "The employer side still has not withdrawn their negative claims and has made no comments. Only the deliberation facilitation range was presented, but there has been no change in position. We judged that we cannot engage in dialogue with the employer side, which is making claims that deviate from the purpose and intent of the minimum wage, so we declared non-participation."

He added, "It is already a tilted playing field. Setting the range themselves and then insisting on their own way if others do not conform is not right. If asked whether the KCTU's participation can change this tilted playing field, I think the answer is 'no.'"

Vice Chairman Yoon also argued, "Many say that if the minimum wage rises, unemployment increases and jobs decrease. However, there has been no increase in unemployment rate, no business bankruptcies, and no workers forced onto the streets due to the minimum wage increase."

In conclusion, he said, "We accept today's disruption with a heavy heart," but raised his voice to condemn "the employer representatives, the public interest members, and the government that abandoned the promise of a 10,000 won minimum wage."

Meanwhile, due to the KCTU's absence, the number of worker representatives who can represent the labor sector has decreased to five. All nine employer representatives attended, so if a vote is held to decide the minimum wage going forward, the labor sector will be at a disadvantage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.