Public interest members of the Minimum Wage Commission proposed a deliberation-facilitation range of 10,600 won to 10,860 won per hour for next year's minimum wage, representing increases of 2.7 percent and 5.25 percent, respectively.
The public interest members put forward the range at the 14th plenary session held Tuesday at Government Complex Sejong, and asked both labor and management to submit additional revised proposals.
The proposed range represents a 2.7 to 5.25 percent increase over this year's minimum wage of 10,320 won per hour.
Labor and management had earlier submitted their 10th revised offers of 11,150 won and 10,550 won, respectively, narrowing the gap between the two sides to 600 won.
With the deliberation-facilitation range now on the table, both sides are expected to either submit final revised proposals within that range or continue last-minute negotiations. If labor and management reach agreement within the range, the figure will be adopted as a consensus proposal; if they fail to close the gap, the minimum wage will be decided by a vote.
The statutory deadline for this year's minimum wage deliberations passed on June 29. Taking administrative procedures into account, the commission must submit its proposal to the Employment and Labor minister by mid-July, and the minister must finalize and officially announce the minimum wage by Aug. 5. The new rate takes effect Jan. 1.
fact0514@heraldcorp.com
