Labor Side Proposes 10,430 Won,
Management Proposes 10,230 Won
As labor and management work to narrow the gap in their demands to determine next year's minimum wage, the difference in their proposals has decreased from 220 won to 200 won.
Lee Injae, the chair of the Minimum Wage Commission, is entering the 12th plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News
The Minimum Wage Commission held its 12th plenary meeting at the Government Sejong Complex on the 10th, continuing final discussions to set next year's minimum wage.
On this day, the labor representatives presented their 10th revised proposal, suggesting a minimum wage of 10,430 won for next year. This represents a 4.0% increase compared to this year's rate of 10,030 won. Earlier in the day, their 9th revised proposal had suggested 10,440 won, but they immediately lowered it by 10 won.
The employer representatives, in their 10th revised proposal, suggested a minimum wage of 10,230 won for next year, a 2.0% increase from this year. This is 10 won higher than their 9th revised proposal of 10,220 won.
With both sides lowering and raising their proposals by 10 won each, the gap has narrowed from 220 won (in the 9th revised proposals) to 200 won.
However, the labor representatives from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions refused to participate in the deliberations and walked out of the meeting, protesting the low increase rate set by the mediation range. As a result, the labor side's revised proposal remains incomplete.
Previously, the public interest members had proposed a mediation range between 10,210 won (as the lower limit) and 10,440 won (as the upper limit) after labor and management failed to reach an agreement.
At the meeting, the public interest members stated, "Today is the last day for deliberating the minimum wage level," urging labor and management to reach a final agreement.
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