Labor Groups Declare Non-Participation in Minimum Wage Commission Deliberations... Increasing Likelihood of Exceeding Deliberation Deadline

"Cannot Overlook Government's Unreasonable Labor Suppression"

The 8th plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission to discuss next year's minimum wage level ended in disruption as all worker representatives walked out. As a result, the possibility that the minimum wage discussions will fail to meet the legal deadline, which is two days away on the 29th, has increased significantly.

On the afternoon of the 27th, during the 8th plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission held at the Government Complex Sejong, the worker representatives declared their refusal to participate in the deliberations, stating, "In a situation where the government's unreasonable labor oppression runs rampant, jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of minimum wage workers."

The background to this statement dates back to the Ministry of Employment and Labor's dismissal of Kim Jun-young, Secretary-General of the Metal Workers' Union, on its own authority on the 2nd. Secretary-General Kim was arrested on the 2nd after being detained on the 31st of last month in Gwangyang, Jeonnam, during a 'watchtower sit-in' and charged with wielding a weapon. The Ministry of Employment and Labor immediately dismissed Secretary-General Kim, leaving one worker representative seat vacant. Although the Korean Federation of Trade Unions re-nominated Kim Man-jae, Chairman of the Metal Workers' Union, for the vacancy, the Ministry of Labor refused again, citing that he was under investigation for joint illegal activities with the dismissed member.

Ryu Ki-seop, Secretary-General of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, criticized in his opening remarks, "The forced dismissal of Secretary-General Kim, who is legally detained, exploiting his unfavorable conditions amid the labor oppression phase, is an unjust act." He added, "The independence, autonomy, and fairness of the Minimum Wage Commission, which must be preserved regardless of any external factors, have been destroyed," and "In a situation where the government's unreasonable labor oppression runs rampant, jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of minimum wage workers, it is no longer possible to attend the meeting."

On the afternoon of the 27th, at the 8th plenary meeting held in the Minimum Wage Commission meeting room at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City, Ryu Ki-jung, Executive Director of the Korea Employers Federation, a user committee member (left), and Ryu Ki-seop, Secretary General of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a worker committee member, are seated.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

With all worker representatives leaving their seats that day, the likelihood that the minimum wage discussions will exceed the legal deadline has increased. The Minimum Wage Commission must decide on the minimum wage level and submit it to the Minister of Labor within 90 days from the date of the request for deliberation. This year's legal deadline is the 29th. To approve the minimum wage proposal, at least one-third of both worker representatives and employer representatives must be present. However, if a member fails to attend without a valid reason after being requested to attend twice or more, a decision can be made without them.

Previously, the worker representatives demanded a minimum wage of 12,210 KRW per hour for next year, a 26.9% increase from this year, citing reasons such as revitalizing domestic consumption, resolving wage inequality, and the decrease in real wages for workers. Converted to a monthly salary (based on 209 working hours per month), this amounts to 2,551,890 KRW. On the other hand, the business sector initially proposed a freeze at 9,620 KRW per hour, emphasizing the insufficient wage payment capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. Other grounds cited included that the minimum wage exceeds 60% of the median wage, surpasses the living expenses of unmarried low-wage workers living alone, the labor productivity growth rate does not meet the minimum wage increase rate, and the effect on improving income distribution is not clear.

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