As in previous years, a single amount is applied to the next year's minimum wage regardless of the industry.



The Minimum Wage Committee held the 4th plenary meeting yesterday (16th) at the government complex in Sejong to discuss whether to apply the classification (differential) by industry of the minimum wage.



The business and labor circles had a fierce debate over this issue at the meeting that started yesterday at 3pm.



After several suspensions, a total of 27 participants decided to vote on whether to apply the classification by industry.



The voting results that came out around 11:30 last night were 16 against and 11 in favor.



The current law stipulates that the minimum wage can be applied separately by industry.



According to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Minimum Wage Act, 'The minimum wage is determined in consideration of the cost of living of workers, wages of similar workers, labor productivity and income distribution, etc.



In this case, it may be determined separately by type of business.



However, in Korea, classification by industry was applied only in 1988, the first year of implementation of the minimum wage system, and the same amount of minimum wage was applied to all industries from the following year.



During his presidential election, President Yoon Seok-yeol promised to separate the minimum wage by industry, but at least next year, that will not happen.



Earlier, in the remarks at the meeting, Ki-jeong Ryu, executive director of the Korea Employers Federation (KEI), a member of the employers’ association, said, “There is a significant gap in the solvency and productivity of companies by industry. ", he emphasized.



In response, Lee Dong-ho, secretary general of the Korea Federation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a member of the labor union, said, "Even though the application of the minimum wage by industry has been a private provision, the labor community has been patient and faithfully participated in the deliberation so far so as not to make a rupture sound." The division of industries that shakes the foundation of the system must be irreversibly abolished,” he said.



(Photo = Yonhap News)