27th, Ahead of the deliberation deadline for next year,
Press conference and large-scale resolution conference also
“Decisions should be made taking into account the ability to pay”,
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, ‘Ahead of the statutory deadline for deliberating next year’s minimum wage (June 27th), small business owners and self-employed individuals are gearing up for a concerted effort to block the minimum wage hike, starting with a press conference and moving on to large-scale collective actions. While the labor sector is urging for a significant increase in next year’s minimum wage and opposing differential application by industry, self-employed individuals are strongly pushing back, stating that it is cruel to demand that they take responsibility for the livelihoods of low-wage workers when they are already considering closure due to the burden of the minimum wage hike. The minimum wage, which was 5,120 won in 2014, has steeply increased to 9,860 won this year, approaching nearly 90% increase over the past 10 years.’,
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, ‘An official from the Small Business Association stated in a phone call with the Munhwa Ilbo on the 17th, “The level of the minimum wage should be determined taking into account the ability of small business owners to pay, and differential application by industry must be implemented as a basic measure,” and explained, “In order to block the minimum wage increase, we plan to hold a press conference to announce our position on the 18th followed by a large-scale resolution conference on the 25th.”‘,
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, ‘At the press conference on the 18th, small business owners from various industries such as restaurants and beauty salons will present industry demands related to the minimum wage to the Minimum Wage Commission and request that their opinions be taken into account. Then, on the 25th, at the 5th plenary session of the Minimum Wage Commission, a large-scale resolution conference led by the Small Business Association is planned to be held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, with an estimated 1,500 small business owners and self-employed individuals participating. An official from the Small Business Association said, “At the resolution conference, we plan to urge for a freeze or reduction in next year’s minimum wage, as well as call for differential application by industry based on differences in the ability to pay the minimum wage.”‘,
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, ‘According to the Minimum Wage Commission, the minimum wage in South Korea has increased by 89.3% over the past 10 years, from 5,120 won in 2014 to 9,860 won this year. In particular, the minimum wage, which was 6,470 won in 2017 when the Moon Jae-in government took office, saw a steep 16.4% increase to 7,530 won the following year. An industry official stated, “The rapidly increasing minimum wage has long been criticized for having the highest increase rate and speed in Asia and even the world.”‘,
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, ‘Earlier, the Korea Federation of SMEs released the results of a survey on ‘Difficulties and Opinions Regarding the Minimum Wage for SMEs’ on the 2nd, revealing that 61.6% of the 600 surveyed SMEs responded that “Next year’s minimum wage should be reduced or frozen.” In particular, 80.3% stated that this year’s minimum wage was burdensome compared to their current business situation.’,
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