Lee Jae-myung, Conscious of Self-Employed, Keeps Silent on Minimum Wage... Focus on Expanding Scope Rather Than Excessive Increase

[Financial News] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, has identified boosting domestic demand as the most urgent task. To this end, he has pledged to increase sales by forgiving self-employed COVID-19 loans and expanding local currency. Perhaps because of this, he is avoiding mentioning the increase in the minimum wage, which is a burden for self-employed people. It was reported on the 27th that the priority is economic recovery, so the focus is on resolving blind spots rather than pushing for an excessive increase in the minimum wage.

The candidate rarely directly mentions the minimum wage. This was the same during the last presidential election. It seems to be conscious of the criticism that the rapid increase in the minimum wage by the previous Moon Jae-in administration increased the burden on small self-employed people, reducing short-term jobs and worsening income polarization.
The Central Election Committee of the candidate even avoided a direct answer to the official inquiry from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. When the Minimum Wage Movement Headquarters for All under the KCTU asked about the minimum wage increase target, the election committee only gave a principled answer, saying, "We will respect what the labor, management, and public interest members of the Minimum Wage Commission decide."
As self-employed people are cornered further due to the COVID-19 pandemic and low-growth economic recession, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform New Party have instead proposed a pledge to allow local governments to adjust the minimum wage. In this situation, it is not easy for the candidate, who is 'all-in' on saving the self-employed, to casually mention a minimum wage increase.
An election committee official said, "The current economy is not good enough to recommend an increase to the Minimum Wage Commission as during the Moon Jae-in administration," and "We hope that the Minimum Wage Commission will conclude at a level that promotes 'the stable livelihood of workers and qualitative improvement of labor force' under the Minimum Wage Act for the sound development of the national economy."
However, the candidate has not completely let go of the minimum wage issue. The plan is to focus on resolving blind spots where the minimum wage system does not apply because they are not recognized as workers under the Labor Standards Act.
First, the implementation of the 'Worker Presumption System' is being considered for special employment, platform workers, freelancers, and other representative non-standard workers. This system grants worker status if they are practically under the direction and supervision of the employer. The responsibility to prove non-worker status is shifted to the employer, aiming to restore worker rights.
If it is difficult to recognize worker status even with the Worker Presumption System, the Minimum Compensation System is being considered. This system guarantees compensation at the minimum wage level for workers not under the direction and supervision of the employer. Although it was initially included in the draft labor pledge and then removed, the candidate has stated during a meeting with non-standard workers that he will reconsider it.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter