Gangdong-gu Decides 2021 Living Wage Hourly Rate at 10,700 Won

Set 1,980 Won (22.7%) Higher Than 2021 Legal Minimum Wage (Hourly 8,720 Won)... Monthly 2,236,300 Won Based on 209 Hours Work and Ordinary Wage Standard

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) has set the 2021 living wage at 10,700 KRW per hour, amounting to 2,236,300 KRW per month based on 209 hours.

This is 1,980 KRW (22.7%) higher than the 2021 minimum wage of 8,720 KRW, and 180 KRW (1.7%) higher than the 2020 living wage of 10,520 KRW.

Accordingly, workers subject to the Gangdong-gu living wage next year who work the statutory 209 hours will receive a monthly wage of 2,236,300 KRW based on ordinary wages, and the confirmed living wage will be applied from January 1, next year.

The "living wage" was introduced to ensure that workers residing in Gangdong-gu can secure housing, education, and cultural life with their families. It is determined by considering Seoul's housing costs, private education expenses, and inflation rate.

The wage items included in the "living wage" are of an ordinary wage nature, such as "basic salary, transportation allowance, meal allowance, fixed allowances," while non-fixed allowances are not included in the living wage.

The living wage next year will apply to a total of 836 workers, including employees of the district office and Gangdong-gu funded and supported institutions, as well as workers belonging to private consignment, service, and construction companies contracted for district office affairs.

Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon of Gangdong-gu said, "Gangdong-gu plans to actively expand the living wage system to the private sector through systems such as 'preferential treatment for companies complying with the living wage' to improve the quality of life for low-income workers and reduce income inequality," adding, "We especially hope this will help workers whose lives have become more difficult due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)."

Gangdong-gu enacted the Living Wage Ordinance on June 17, 2015, based on a policy judgment that it is necessary to guarantee a humane life for low-income workers, resolve income inequality, and protect the rights and interests of vulnerable labor groups, and has applied it since January 1, 2016.

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