The 8th meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission discussing next year's minimum wage level was held on the 1st at the Government Sejong Building.
The labor and management continued their meeting from 3 p.m. to around 8:55 p.m. that day, but they could not narrow the differences in their opinions regarding the minimum wage amount.
At the meeting, the workers' side proposed a minimum hourly wage of 11,260 won, which is a 12.3% increase from this year. The employers' side argued for 10,090 won, an increase of 0.8%.
Compared to the minimum wages initially proposed by both sides, the workers' side lowered their proposal by 240 won, while the employers' side raised theirs by 80 won. This has narrowed the gap between the labor and management's demands for next year's minimum wage to 1,150 won.
The labor and management have suggested amendments to the minimum wage four times in total, twice at the previous 7th meeting and twice that day.
Initially, the workers' side had proposed a minimum wage of 11,500 won for next year, a 14.7% increase from this year, while the employers' side had called for a freeze.
In the first amendment after that, the workers' side maintained their initial proposal of 11,500 won, while the employers' side suggested raising it by 30 won to 10,060 won.
Nevertheless, the labor and management could not narrow their views. In the subsequently proposed second amendment, the workers' side suggested 11,460 won, and the employers' side proposed 10,070 won.
At the 8th meeting held that afternoon, the tug-of-war over the minimum wage increase continued. Through the third amendment, the workers' side proposed 11,360 won, while the employers' side suggested 10,090 won.
As a result, the difference in the amounts demanded by the labor and management has narrowed from 1,470 won (initial request) to 1,440 won (first amendment), 1,390 won (second amendment), and now to 1,270 won to 1,150 won.
The Minimum Wage Commission is set to hold its 9th meeting on the 3rd to discuss next year's minimum wage amount.
Meanwhile, discussions on next year's minimum wage have already surpassed the legal deadline. The Minimum Wage Commission must decide on the minimum wage within 90 days from the date it receives the deliberation request from the Minister of Employment and Labor. Since former Minister Kim Moon-soo sent the request on March 31, this year's deliberation should have been completed by June 29. However, since the deadline is a recommendatory regulation and not a mandatory one, there are no particular penalties for exceeding the deadline.