Next Year Seafarers' Minimum Monthly Wage Set at 2,249,500 Won... 1.5% Increase from This Year

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Announces 2021 Minimum Wage for Seafarers

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 15th that the minimum wage for seafarers in 2021 will be set at 2,249,500 KRW per month, effective from the 16th. This is an increase of 33,540 KRW (1.5%) from this year's minimum wage of 2,215,960 KRW per month.

Lee Jong-ho, Director of the Seafarer Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, explained, "Next year's minimum wage for seafarers was determined by comprehensively considering the opinions of stakeholders, the unique characteristics of maritime labor, and the conditions of the shipping and fisheries industries amid the COVID-19 pandemic."

The minimum wage for seafarers is set separately from the minimum wage for land workers announced by the Minister of Employment and Labor, in accordance with Article 59 of the Seafarers Act, with the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries establishing it after consulting the Ministry's Policy Advisory Committee.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the minimum wage for seafarers has traditionally been set higher than that for land workers, taking into account the harsh working conditions at sea. The 2021 minimum wage for seafarers was decided at a level 427,020 KRW higher than the monthly converted amount of the minimum wage for land workers, which is 1,822,480 KRW.

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