Representatives of both national trade union centers made a request that the amendment bill of the Minimum Wage Act be passed during the parliamentary session in March. In case that the consultation among executive secretaries of the ruling and opposition parties in the Environment and Labor Committee becomes abortive, they demanded the National Assembly to fact-track the amendment bill in pursuance of the Article 85-2 of the National Assembly Act on expeditious processing of agendas.
Rep. Hong replied that he will arrange a consultation meeting among the committee executive secretaries of the political parties to discuss the itinerary for the amendment agenda. Trade unions expressed concerns over other political priorities before the upcoming presidential election on May 9, which may set aside the legislation procedures for the desired amendment.

Both FKTU and KCTU have already announced their common stance that they will not participate in the minimum wage deliberation, if the amendment bill which sets new criteria to determine the minimum wage and changes the appointment of public interest members is not passed this year.

reported by Bae Hye-jeong
translated by Kim Sung-jin