KATHMANDU, July 13: The minimum wages of all domestic and foreign workers including Nepalis have been hiked in South Korea. 

A meeting of the minimum wages fixation committee held on Monday increased the wages by five percent of the existing wages and set the minimum wage at 9,160 Korean Won per hour. The increased wages will be implemented from 2022.

Earlier, the minimum wage was 8,720 Wons per hour. As per the new minimum wages, one can earn 1 million 914 thousand 440 Wons per month while working eight hours daily, five days a week. This is around 200,000 Nepali rupees. 

The nine-member committee on Monday midnight took the decision to increase the minimum wages. 

Those representing the workers' side had demanded to increase minimum wages to 10,000 Wons from 8,720 Wons while those representing the employers maintained the stance of not increasing the minimum wages, arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the business. 

Those representing the general people had suggested a middle way after the representatives of workers and employers failed to reach a conclusion. 

The Minimum Wages Fixation Committee will recommend to the Labour Ministry of Korea about the increased wages and the Labour Ministry will declare it on August 5. 

 
• South_Korea