Wage talks make little progress

Labor and management are laboring to set the minimum wage for next year, an important indicator in deciding the average wage level across industries. 

During the fifth meeting of the Minimum Wage Council on Friday, both parties offered their compromise proposals, first in a series of meetings over the past three months. 

Management, which has insisted on freezing this year’s minimum hourly wage of 4,110 won ($3.47), offered to increase 8 won, while labor groups proposed 5,110 won, 70 won lower than their previous demand.

“Labor and management have just taken the first step toward compromise. Due to the still huge difference in their proposals, however, it seems difficult to reach an agreement that will satisfy both of them,” said a council member. 

With the deadline for the talks due on June 29, the Minimum Wage Council, consisting of representatives from labor, management and the government, will hold two more meetings on Friday and Monday.

Civic group members call for an increase of the minimum wage in Seoul on Tuesday. Yonhap News