[Reporter’s Notebook] Labor and Management Shaking Only the Minimum Wage Committee

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok]

"The full-scale discussion hasn't even started yet, but the conflict over setting next year's minimum wage already feels like it has reached its peak. It is undesirable for a specific group to unilaterally express opinions and try to influence decision-making."

A committee member with years of experience participating in the Minimum Wage Commission's deliberations recently expressed concern about the movements between labor unions and employer groups. With the second plenary meeting to set next year's minimum wage just a day away, the actions shown by both employers and labor groups make one nod in agreement with this criticism.

The Korea Economic Research Institute under the Federation of Korean Industries announced the results of a survey conducted on the 16th targeting self-employed individuals, asking whether they would consider closing their businesses if the minimum wage increased. The response "already at the limit" was the highest at 32.2%. In response, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) immediately issued a rebuttal press release, claiming there is no correlation between minimum wage increases and damage to self-employed businesses.

The Minimum Wage Commission is now scheduled for its second meeting, but both labor and management appear to be pressuring the commissioners with provocative press releases. The labor union even sent text message bombings after most of the public interest commissioners were reappointed.

Both sides criticize each other's claims by saying, "It will only gain sympathy within their own groups, not among the entire public." They are more focused on criticism than on reasonable alternatives.

The problem is that if such claims are repeated, it will become even more difficult to set next year's minimum wage. Even if it is set, distrust will inevitably remain. Since the first plenary meeting held at the end of last month, labor and management have continued their debate in the order of 'current minimum wage level → reappointment scale of public interest commissioners → impact of minimum wage on self-employed damage.' Especially, this year's Minimum Wage Commission activities are more sensitive due to many variables such as the end of COVID-19 and next year's presidential election.

There is only one thing to consider when setting the minimum wage: how to protect workers from being pushed out of the labor market and how to define the role of employers in that process. Is it so difficult to calmly observe the Minimum Wage Commission's discussions?

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