이총리 "최저임금 추가 인상 아니다"...경영계, 최저임금 시행령안 의결에 반발<br /><br />The government voted to increase the nation's minimum wage by almost eleven percent in 2019.<br />Criticisms and complaints are sure to follow as it's been a controversial issue in the private sector.<br />Cha Sang-mi explains further. <br />The Cabinet has voted to raise South Korea's minimum wage in the new year by 10-point-9 percent.<br />That'll bring the minimum wage from the current 6 U.S. dollars and 80 cents... to seven and a half dollars.<br />That measure was approved today in the Cabinet's last meeting of the year, led by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon.<br />To calculate wages, monthly pay is divided by the number of working hours.<br />Workers get basic pay plus eight paid hours of weekend work, which Korean companies give to employees who do a normal five-day week.<br />Under the new formula, that extra weekend work will be added to the standard monthly hours.<br />The math works so that companies will have to boost *basic pay*... to meet the minimum wage. <br />"The revision to the ordinance is simply implementing the old administrative explanation, not an additional hike to the minimum wage. The contentious weekend pay ihas been in place since 1953 -- for 65 years."<br />Acknowledging the greater burden on employers, who will have to pay more, the PM vowed to waive card processing fees, give them work grants and establish a job stability fund.<br />There's been pushback from smaller businesses, though, who fear they'll struggle to meet payroll, as the government raised the minimum wage this year too... by 16-point-4 percent.<br />Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.