The social dialogue just ahead of a fresh start is running into a crisis, as the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly pushes ahead with the deliberation on the revision of the Minimum Wage Act which includes a controversial agenda to extend the inclusion scope of minimum wage components. The political circle including the ruling party disregarded a national level bilateral agreement made by the Federation of Korean Trade Unions(FKTU), Korean Confederation of Trade Unions(KCTU) and Korea Employers Federation(KEF) to "deal with the redefinition issue of the minimum wage components at the Minimum Wage Council".
The Employment and Labor Subcommittee had examined the revision bill from the afternoon of May 21 until the dawn of May 22, but failed to reach any conclusion. The subcommittee is scheduled to meet again on May 24 in an attempt to reach a deal on the revision bill. The move by the subcommittee was criticized to have thrown cold water on the newly fostered social dialogue climate. In protest, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions(KCTU) declared that it will not participate in the future social dialogue.
reported by Kim Hak-tae
translated by Kim Sung-jin