[Economy 365]
It was found that COVID-19 had a relatively greater impact on the employment of the vulnerable, such as the low-income class and the youth.
As a result of an analysis by the Korea Economic Research Institute, the job retention rate of low-income earners below 50% of the median income fell by about 8.4%p in 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak occurred.
Comparing the job loss rate with the overall unemployment rate, it was found that 4 out of 10 low-income unemployed people lost their jobs due to the coronavirus.
It was analyzed that 31% of unemployed young people and 29% of unemployed women also lost their jobs due to the coronavirus.
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Companies have been caught fixing the price and quantity in the bidding of liquefied carbon dioxide used for welding and beverages.
The Fair Trade Commission imposed a correction order and fines of KRW 5.33 billion on nine companies, including Seondo Chemical.
They matched the price levels in the liquefied carbon dioxide purchase bidding conducted by four shipbuilders, including Hyundai Heavy Industries, in 2017 and 2018, and as a result, the average successful bid price increased by 45%.
It was also found that these companies also raised the selling price of the liquefied carbon dioxide supplied to the charging stations to prevent their competitors from participating in the bidding.
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Amid the controversy over the abolition of compulsory holidays in large marts, traditional market merchants are starting a collective action.
The National Merchants Association announced that it will install banners against the abolition of mart closures in 1,900 traditional markets nationwide from the 8th to the 12th.
In this regard, the Office of Government Policy Coordination held a regulatory adjudication meeting composed of private experts and others today (4th) to discuss regulations on sales of large marts.