▲ Employer representatives hold signs calling for industry-specific minimum wage application during the 7th plenary session of the Minimum Wage Commission at the Government Complex Sejong on June 18.
The minimum wage for next year will be applied uniformly across all industries, without differentiation.
The Minimum Wage Commission held its 7th plenary session at the Government Complex Sejong today (June 18) and held a vote on whether to apply different minimum wages by industry for next year. The proposal was rejected with 14 votes against, 11 in favor, and 1 abstention, failing to reach a majority of the attending members.
The vote was attended by 26 members in total, including 8 out of 9 labor representatives, 9 employer representatives, and 9 public interest commissioners.
Previously, the employer side argued that sectors hit hardest by the economic downturn, such as accommodation and food services, should be subject to a lower minimum wage than other industries.
In contrast, the labor side opposed the move, arguing that applying a lower minimum wage to specific industries is an idea that institutionalizes discrimination against workers.
While the differential application of the minimum wage by industry is a contentious issue that labor and management clash over every year, it has not progressed to actual implementation.
Although industry-specific application is legally possible and was implemented on a temporary basis in 1988, the first year the system was introduced, it has not been used since.
Due to opposition from the labor sector, a single minimum wage system has been maintained since 1989.
With the proposal rejected by the vote, the discussion has been deferred to next year's Minimum Wage Commission.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.