The 9th meeting of the Minimum Wage Commission to discuss next year's minimum wage level was held on the 3rd at the Government Sejong Office.
At the meeting, the workers' side proposed a minimum hourly wage of 11,020 won, which is a 9.9% increase from this year. The employers' side argued for 10,050 won, a 1.2% increase.
The labor union lowered its initial proposal by 480 won, while the employers' side raised its offer by 120 won. Consequently, the gap between the minimum wage demands of labor and management narrowed to 870 won. This marks the first time the gap has fallen below 1,000 won following discussions on this year's minimum wage increase.
So far, the two sides have presented a total of six revisions to the minimum wage proposal. When both sides first put forward their minimum wage demands, the gap was 1,470 won. In the first revision, it started at 1,440 won, followed by 1,390 won (2nd revision), 1,270 won (3rd revision), 1,150 won (4th revision), and 1,010 won (5th revision).
However, even after a five-hour discussion that day, the two sides could not narrow their differences. The 10th meeting is scheduled for the 8th.
There are also predictions that discussions between the two sides regarding next year's minimum wage increase could become prolonged. This is because the public interest committee members attending the meeting indicated they would not suggest a mediation period and would encourage autonomous agreement between labor and management.
In the past, if opinions between labor and management did not converge, the public interest committee would suggest the upper and lower limits of the minimum wage for a vote, but they have decided not to do so. Since the implementation of the minimum wage system in 1988, the minimum wage has been determined by labor-management agreement only seven times.