While workers' members of the Minimum Wage Council were calling on the government to make clear the position regarding the revision of the Minimum Wage Act, they decided not to participate in the plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Council scheduled on June 1. Instead, they agreed to wait and see the implementation commitment of the government toward the institutional improvement until June 7 and discuss again their participation in the minimum wage deliberation process.
According to the Federation of Korean Trade Unions(FKTU) and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions(KCTU), workers' members had a meeting at the FKTU headquarters on May 31 and agreed to call on the government and parliament to improve the institutions including the revision of the Minimum Wage Act.
They called on the government to come up with the clear position on the revision of the Minimum Wage Act and its implementation plan and take effective remedies to reduce the ratio of workers working below the minimum wage through all possible measures with the authority granted to the executive branch.
They also demanded the national assembly to strengthen the impartiality and fairness in the appointment of public interest members and reflect the household living cost and improve the institutions including the strengthened penal provisions in violation of the Minimum Wage Act.
Workers' members did not attend the first and second round of meeting and the next meeting is scheduled on June 8.
reported by Kim Bong-seok
translated by Kim Sung-jin