▲ Activists of the Minimum Wage Solidarity and workers' members of the Minimum Wage Council hold a press briefing to call for the amendment of the 'minimum wage act' on February 13 in front of the National Assembly.(Jeong Ki-hoon)

 

Solidarity actions to raise the national minimum wage to 10,000 won(US$8.70) per hour are expected to spread among the civil societies ahead of the presidential election which can be held earlier than scheduled due to the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye.

 

Activists of the labor, citizens and social organizations called on the National Assembly to amend the 'minimum wage act' to make the '10,000 won(US$8.70) minimum wage' possible. The law amendment should be made in advance, activists argue, as the Minimum Wage Council starts its deliberation on the national minimum wage fixation for the year 2018 from April this year.

 

Even though the minimum wage is regulated to be set after taking into account the living cost, wages of comparable workers, labor productivity and labor income share, the role of public interest members has long been criticized because they did not reflect the minimum wage determination criteria.

The Minimum Wage Council is composed of 27 members; nine members each representing workers, employers and public interests.

 

reported by Je Jeong-nam
translated by Kim Sung-jin

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