KCTU Absent from Minimum Wage Commission Meeting... Holds Rally Demanding 'Significant Increase'

The scene of the first plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission held on the 20th of last month. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) boycotted the 2nd plenary meeting for next year's minimum wage deliberations on the 18th and held a rally outside the meeting venue demanding a substantial increase in the minimum wage.

The KCTU announced in a statement that it would not attend the 2nd plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission.

The Minimum Wage Commission held its 2nd plenary meeting at the Government Sejong Complex in the afternoon to issue appointment letters to newly appointed members and elect the next chairperson. The commission consists of 27 members: 9 worker representatives, 9 employer representatives, and 9 public interest representatives.

Due to the KCTU's boycott, 4 of the 9 worker representatives recommended by the KCTU did not attend, making disruptions to the meeting inevitable.

The KCTU cited as reasons for their boycott that the government allowed 8 of the 9 public interest members, including Chairperson Park Junsik and member Kwon Soonwon (secretary of the public interest members), to remain in office; that only 4 of the 9 worker representatives were appointed based on KCTU recommendations; and that the selection process of these 4 KCTU-recommended members was not coordinated with the KCTU.

The KCTU demanded the replacement of public interest members, blaming Chairperson Park and member Kwon for the low minimum wage increase rates of 2.9% last year and 1.5% this year, but the government did not accept this demand.

Additionally, the government maintained the number of worker representatives recommended by the KCTU at 4, following existing practices, despite the KCTU's demand for the right to recommend 5 worker representatives on the grounds that its membership has surpassed the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) to become the 'number one trade union.'

The KCTU held a rally in front of the Sejong Complex on the same day, condemning the government for ignoring their demands and calling for a substantial increase in next year's minimum wage.

With the KCTU boycotting the meeting and engaging in outside protests from the early stages of next year's minimum wage deliberations, there are forecasts that this year's deliberations will also face difficulties.