Labor "Platform Workers Also Deserve Minimum Wage"... Employers "Differentiated Application Needed for Food and Accommodation Industries"

The review of next year's minimum wage has officially begun, with the business sector arguing for differentiated application of the minimum wage for the food and accommodation industries, citing the worsening management difficulties of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. On the other hand, the labor sector opposed this by advocating for the expanded application to special employment and platform workers.

At the 2nd plenary meeting of the Minimum Wage Committee held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 27th, Ryu Gi-jeong, Executive Director of the Korea Employers Federation, stated, "It seems our economy is facing a crisis beyond stagnation," and diagnosed that "the recent bleak economic situation is further exacerbating the difficulties of those who have to pay the minimum wage."

He continued, "According to a survey conducted by the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises last April on 1,000 small business owners, their average monthly operating profit is 2,088,000 won, which does not even reach the monthly conversion amount of 2,096,000 won for minimum wage workers working 40 hours a week," adding, "The state-imposed minimum wage should not exacerbate or ignore the difficulties of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners who are in a limit situation."

Lee Myung-ro, Head of the Human Resources Policy Headquarters at the Korea Federation of SMEs, also said, "Our minimum wage level is high both absolutely and internationally," and predicted, "Next year, due to the tariff crisis originating from the U.S., exports are expected to decrease significantly, making it difficult to expect a trickle-down effect, and the payment capacity of SMEs, small business owners, and self-employed individuals is expected to decline further." He particularly argued, "Through differentiated application by industry, conditions should be created for small business owners and self-employed individuals who are on the brink of collapse to comply with the minimum wage," and "some industries such as food and accommodation are becoming more vulnerable to the point of standing at a crossroads of survival, so the minimum wage should be applied differently to reduce the burden of labor costs."

On the other hand, the labor sector opposed this by arguing that a high rate increase in the minimum wage and expanded application to special employment and platform workers are necessary. Ryu Gi-seop, Secretary General of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, said, "The expansion of minimum wage application confirmed on-site is a task of the times, and differentiated application by industry and region is merely stigmatization," adding, "The core means of coexisting with small business owners and small self-employed individuals is the minimum wage. The promotion of consumption due to increased disposable income is the first step toward coexistence."

Imi-seon, Vice Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, emphasized, "We have submitted a complaint about minimum wage violations to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, which includes the reality of special employment and platform workers at the hourly rate of 8,220 won," adding, "They receive no compensation for travel and waiting times and bear various costs and insurance themselves, threatening their survival."

aber@fnnews.com Park Ji-young Reporter