Minimum Wage to Be Applied Uniformly Across Industries Next Year as Well... Rejected in Vote

11 Votes in Favor vs. 15 Votes Against, 1 Invalid Vote

The minimum wage for next year will be applied as a single wage without distinction by industry.

On the 2nd, the Minimum Wage Commission put to a vote the issue of whether to apply industry-specific minimum wages for next year at the 7th plenary meeting held at the Government Sejong Complex. The vote resulted in rejection.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, the business sector argued that the payment capacity of vulnerable industries should be considered and claimed that it is necessary to apply differentiated minimum wages for Korean, foreign, and other simple restaurants, taxi transportation, and chain convenience store industries.

The labor sector strongly opposed the differentiated application, calling it discrimination. Among the worker representatives, the Democratic Labor Union members strongly opposed putting the issue to a vote amid uncertainty about the stance of the public interest commissioners holding the 'casting vote.' On this day as well, Lee Mi-seon, Vice Chairperson of the Democratic Labor Union, strongly requested Chairperson Lee In-jae to reconsider the vote, but the chairperson proceeded with the vote.

Although the current Minimum Wage Act allows for industry-specific application, the only time such differentiation was actually implemented was in 1988, the first year the minimum wage system was introduced.