The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises expressed regret on the 19th regarding the Supreme Court's ruling that "conditional regular bonuses with employment conditions and workday conditions apply as ordinary wages."
The federation issued a statement that day, saying, "We respect the judiciary's decision, but we express our regret," adding, "In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that conditional regular bonuses do not apply as ordinary wages."
The federation continued, "Recently, small and medium enterprises and small business owners are facing deteriorating management conditions due to persistent high interest rates, high prices, and prolonged domestic market stagnation," noting, "In this situation, the ruling may increase the additional expense burden on small and medium enterprises and exacerbate conflicts between labor and management, potentially leading to reduced employment as well."
The federation emphasized, "However, it is fortunate that the ruling does not apply retroactively to avoid confusion, but this ruling should serve as an opportunity for labor and management to work together toward simplifying the wage system and transitioning from a seniority-based pay system to a performance-based pay system."