Opposition leader calls for talks on minimum wage

Main opposition party leader Moon Jae-in on Tuesday proposed holding three-way talks to discuss the minimum wage hike, volunteering to coordinate between policymakers and lawmakers to support the low-income bracket.

Moon of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy said members of the rival parties and the government should gather to discuss how to raise the salaries for workers to help boost the economy.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan has also recently stated that higher wages lead to more domestic consumption and that the minimum wage must be rapidly raised. … This means he has acknowledged what my party and I been insisting ― that the way to go is to have an income-based growth and minimum wage hike,” Moon said during an economic research forum of the party.

He said that the government and the governing party should put the policy into practice.

The Saenuri Party, however, remained skeptical of the proposal.

Saenuri floor leader Yoo Seong-min said the minimum wage range is settled at the Minimum Wage Council, composed of representatives of employers, employees and the government, and that the political sector could only convey its view.

Concerning his party’s decision to open a new regular forum on intensive economic policies, Moon pledged that the NPAD will exert full-fledged effort to become a competent “economy-oriented party.”

The Park Geun-hye administration reportedly supports views that the minimum wage hike is required to improve income distribution in the country as well as to reinforce the sagging private consumption.

Park pledged during the 2012 election campaign to increase the minimum wage by 40 percent over her five-year term.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)