Naju-si Confirms Next Year's Living Wage at an Hourly Rate of 9,720 Won

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 26th that the living wage per hour for public sector workers next year was finally decided to be 9,720 won through the living wage deliberation committee held on the 25th.

The living wage system pays wages above the minimum wage to ensure a practical livelihood by comprehensively considering workers' housing costs, education expenses, cultural expenses, and more.

It was first implemented in Seongbuk-gu and Nowon-gu, Seoul in 2013 domestically, and the city has been implementing the living wage system since last year after enacting related ordinances in 2019.

Next year's living wage increased by 350 won from this year's 9,370 won per hour and is 6.1% (560 won) higher than the government's announced minimum wage of 9,160 won for next year.

Accordingly, those subject to the application will receive about 2,031,000 won per month based on the regular wage if they work the statutory labor hours of 209 hours.

The confirmed living wage will be applied from January 1 next year to city-affiliated workers, workers of city-invested and funded institutions, and workers of private consignment institutions.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, "We decided the increase rate by comprehensively considering the minimum wage increase rate, wage levels of similar workers, and the city's financial conditions," and added, "We will do our best to ensure the practical livelihood of low-wage workers and the gradual increase of the living wage."

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong bong2910@asiae.co.kr

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