Labor, management at odds over adopting sector-specific minimum wage - 부문별 최저임금 채택을 놓고 노사 갈등

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/06/281_377733.html

Labor, management at odds over adopting sector-specific minimum wage

 

 

Vote expected Tuesday to introduce measure for 1st time in nearly 40 years

 

at odds ~상충하는, ~와 조화하지 못하는, ~와 다투어, ~와 뜻이 맞지 않는

lock horns with = come into conflict with 

labour management conflict = conflict between labour and management 노사갈등

sector-specific minimum wage 부문별 최저임금

introduce = adopt = impose = bring in = institute 도입하다, 소개하다, 채택하다

 

Labor and management representatives are locked in a contentious standoff over whether to implement sector-specific minimum wages as part of ongoing discussions to set the 2025 minimum wage. The proposal to establish separate wages for different industries has been advocated by the management side in recent years, but has been consistently voted down due to strong opposition from the labor sector.

 

be locked in = be in limbo = be in a deadlock = be in dilemma = be in dilemma = be a catch-22 situation = be stuck between a rock and hardplace= be in gridlcok ~에 갇혀있다, 교착상태에 있다, 딜레마에 빠지다

standoff = deadlock = gridlock = standstill = stalemate = impasse 교착상태, 정체상태, 정체

separate = discrete = individual = respective 별개의, 개별의, 분리된

be advocated by = be supported by = be backed by = be shored up by = be propped up by = be endorsed by =  be assisted by ~에 힘입다, ~가 지지하다

be voted down = be rejected = be thrown out = get voted = get killed = be dismissed 부결되다, 기각되다

opposition = objection = protest = dissent = disapproval 반대

 

The management side argues that implementing differentiated minimum wages, previously introduced in 1988 but not upheld since, is necessary. They contend that small business owners and the self-employed have struggled financially due to what they describe as a significant rise in the minimum wage in recent years. On the other hand, the labor sector, which criticizes the measure as constituting socio-economic discrimination, argues that differentiated minimum wages contradict the purpose of the minimum wage system, which aims to ensure that workers receive a minimum amount of money necessary for living.

 

argue = claim = insist = contend = assert 주장하다

differentiated = separate = discrete = distinguishing = distinct 차별화된, 구별되는

small business 소기업, 영세기업

small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 중소기업

the self-employed 자영업자

struggle to = wrastle with = grapple with = contend with = strive to ~하려고 애쓰다, ~하려고 고군분투하다

criticize = condemn = accuse = oppose = object = reprimand = reprehend = admonish = reprove = censure = denounce 비난하다, 꾸짖다

constitute ~으로 여겨지다, ~으로 간주하다, ~이 되다, ~을 구성하다

socio-economic discrimination 사회 경제적 차별

contradict = go against = argue against = oppose = challenge = do not match up 모순되다, 부정하다, 부인하다

 

The issue has once again become a point of contention for the 27-member Minimum Wage Commission, which includes nine representatives each from labor unions, management and the public. The commission began its annual deliberations on May 21. The tripartite commission was initially expected to vote during its sixth plenary session last Thursday on whether to adopt the measure for the first time in nearly 40 years. But the vote did not take place due to opposition from the labor sector.

 

become a point of contention 쟁점이 되다, 논쟁의 쟁점이 되다, 논쟁의 핵심이되다

annual deliberations 연례 심의

tripartite = three-way = three-party 3자간의, 삼자간의

plenary session 전체회의, 총회, 본회의

take place = happen = occur = transpire = come to pass = bechance = uprise 일어나다, 발생하다 

opposition = objection = protest = dissent = disapproval 반대

 

All eyes are on whether the issue will come to a vote during the seventh plenary session of the commission, scheduled for Tuesday. According to sources, all nine representatives from management support the measure, while all nine labor representatives oppose it. This means that the public sector representatives — mostly scholars and researchers — will have a decisive vote if the issue is brought to the table.

 

all eyes are on ~에 모두의 이목이 쏠리다

come to a vote 표결하다, 투표에 붙이다

decisive 결정적인

be brought to the table 제시되다, 화두가 되다, 제안되다

 

 

The country’s Minimum Wages Act allows differentiated minimum wages across various sectors, but such a measure was implemented only once in 1988 when the law was introduced. Since then, the same minimum wage has been set annually across all industrial sectors for 36 years until this year when the rate stood at 9,860 won ($7.13) per hour. During Thursday’s session, the management side proposed differentiating minimum wages for micro-businesses such as restaurants, taxi services and convenience stores from those in other industries, potentially resulting in lower wages for workers in these sectors.

 

across various sectors 여러 섹터에 걸쳐, 어러부문에 걸쳐

across all industrial sectors 모든 산업부문에 걸쳐, 모든 산업섹터에 걸쳐

implement a measure 조치를 이행하다, 조치를 실행하다

implement = conduct = carry out = bring into practice = put into effect = enforce 실행하다, 시행하다

introduce a law = impose a law = bring in a law = adopt a law = institute a law 법을 도입하다

set a minimum wage 최저임금을 정하다

stand at = amount to = arrive at = reach = number = add up to = sum up to = total up to ~에 이르다, ~에 달하다

micro-busienss 영세기업

small business 소기업

small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 중소기업

the self-employed 자영업자

 

 

“The country’s minimum wage has increased 52.4 percent for the last seven years. When holiday pay is considered, the wage has gone up by 82.9 percent,” said Ryu Ki-jung, a representative from the Korea Enterprises Federation, a business lobby representing over 4,000 businesses in the country.

 

holiday pay 휴일 임금, 주휴 수당

Korea Enterprises Federation 한국 경영자 총 협회

busines lobby 비지니스 로비 단체

 

“Setting wages separately for different industries for next year is surely necessary, considering some particular sectors that cannot afford even the current level of minimum wage.” The labor sector, for its part, claims that, if the measure is implemented, people will eventually hesitate to work for industries subject to lower minimum wages, which will lead to shortages of workers and will also work against employers.

 

surely necessary 꼭 필요한, 반드시 필요한

considerting = given that = inasmuch as ~을 고려하면, ~을 고려해볼때

cannot afford to ~할 형편이 안되다

for its part 입장으로서는, ~로서는

hesitate to = reluctant to = loath to = averse to = balk at = unwilling to ~하는 것을 꺼리는, ~을 싫어하는, ~을 망설이다

work against = be disadvantageous = be unfavorable = be adversely affecte ~에 불리하게 되다, ~에 반대하다

subject to ~의 대상인, ~의 지배를 받는, ~에 종속되는

a shortage of worker = a shortage of labour 노동력 부족

 

“Workers who merely earn 2 million won a month will not be able to survive if their wage level decreases further, considering excessively high prices,” said Lee Mi-sun, a representative of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of Korea’s two largest umbrella unions.

 

merely 한낱, 그저, 단지

high prices 고물가

excessively = unreasonably = outrageously = absurdly = ridiculously = ludicrously = preposterously = exorbitantly = terribly 터무니없이, 과도하게, 비합리적으로

umbrella unions 산하노동조합

Korean Cofederation of Trade Unions 전국민주노동조합총연맹

trade union = labour union = union = trades union 노동조합

 

 

Not all countries around the world enforce equal minimum wages across all industrial sectors. Among 187 member states of the International Labour Organization, 90 percent have a minimum wage system, and half of those have multiple minimum wages, according to a report written at the end of 2020 by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations.

 

enforce = implement = conduct = carry out = bring into practice = put into effect 실행하다, 시행하다

euqal = idential = the same = uniform = homogeneous 동등한, 같은

minimum wage system 최저임금 시스템

multiple = diverse = a variety of = various = varied = variegated = miscellaneous = mixed = assorted = varying = multifurious = many = numerous 다양한, 여러가지의

 

But experts noted that countries that differentiate minimum wages mostly opt for giving a higher wage for particular industries, unlike the Korean management side which argues that some industries should be allowed to pay a lower wage. Amid the continued labor-management confrontation, the tripartite commission failed again to meet the legal deadline for determining the 2025 minimum wage, which was Thursday. Another point of focus — whether the minimum wage will surpass 10,000 won per hour for the first time — is still pending.

 

note that = point out that = indicate that ~에 주목하다

opt for ~을 택하다

labour-management confrontation 노사 대립

confrontation = conflict = collision = clash = friction = tension = row = feud = strife = discord = dissension = disagreement 충돌, 대립, 반대, 불화, 의견차이

meet the legal deadline = make the legal deadline = finish by the legal deadline 법정기한을 맞추다

point of focus 초점

pending = undecided = unreserved = undetermined = outstanding = unsettled 미결의, 해결되지 않은, 계류중인

 

Since 1987, when the annual deliberation on the level of minimum wage began, tripartite representatives reached a consensus by the deadline only nine times.

 

annual deliberations 연례 심의

tripartite = three-way = three-party 3자간의, 삼자간의

reach a consensus = reach an agreement = reach a settlement = come to an agreement 합의에 이르다

by the deadline 마감기한까지

 

 

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