Ruling bloc divided on foreign nannies' pay
South Korea's ruling bloc is divided over whether to exclude foreign caregivers from minimum wage standards, with ruling party politicians advocating for more affordable options for households, while the labor minister nominee warns it could breach the Constitution as well as international labor laws.
Kim Moon-soo, the former Gyeonggi Province governor nominated by President Yoon Suk Yeol for labor minister, said in a written statement Sunday, a day ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing, that discriminatory application of minimum wages for a foreigner could be deemed a violation of South Korea's Constitution and laws, as well as International Labor Organization standards such as Convention No. 111.
Kim, a labor activist-turned-conservative politician, added that he could review the suggestion if the Seoul municipal government asks for the discriminatory application of the wage policy, but added that "concerns will also be considered."
Korea ratified ILO Convention No. 111, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin that impairs equality of opportunity and treatment in all areas of employment or occupation.
Despite such concerns, Reps. Na Kyung-won, Kim Sun-gyo and Yoo Sang-bum in the ruling party are set to hold a parliamentary panel session Tuesday to discuss ways to pay lower wages to foreign domestic workers through what they call "discriminatory application of minimum wages."
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, one of the leaders in charge of the foreign nanny pilot program, will also deliver a keynote speech at the event, according to Na's office, as the seminar is meant to break away from the "negative view toward the discriminatory application of minimum wage."
Na's office also said that Seoul's pilot program indicated that caregiving services might seem elusive for ordinary people given the cost burden. According to Seoul, 1 in 3 households to which foreign caregivers would be dispatched is located in the wealthy southern Seoul districts of Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu and Songpa-gu.
Na's office added that it is imminent for South Korea to refer to Singapore and Hong Kong as examples of not putting foreign domestic helpers' pay on par with the nation's minimum wage policy, even though Singapore does not have a minimum wage.
Debate on foreign caregivers intensified in recent weeks after 100 professionally trained Filipinas arrived in Seoul to take part in the pilot program, jointly operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Labor Ministry. They are subject to the South Korean minimum wage of 9,860 won ($7.40), as they would be employed at one of two certified agencies and their rights -- including to the minimum wage and four mandatory insurance programs -- would be protected under the Act on the Employment Improvement of Domestic Workers.
If they work eight hours, five days a week, the caregivers who are to be deployed to households will earn 2.38 million won per month in the pilot's six-month run.
But in Singapore and Malaysia, foreign domestic workers are paid $400 per month -- a minimum threshold suggested by the Philippines Department of Migrant Workers -- while those in Hong Kong are paid at least 4,870 Hong Kong dollars ($625) per month, both less than half of what those in South Korea would be paid, according to advocates of discriminatory application of minimum wages.
None of Singapore, Malaysia nor Hong Kong has ratified ILO Convention No. 111 regarding discrimination in employment and occupation.
You Hye-mi, senior secretary to the president for population policy, last week suggested allowing an individual to directly hire a foreign domestic worker without a third-party housekeeping service agent.
Under a separate set of rules, people hired directly by their clients for housekeeping without an agent are not necessarily protected by the minimum wage regulations.
-
共同推动雅安职工思想政治引领数智化发展工作做深做实Pacquiao says exhibition fight 'my comeback to the ring'This HTC Vive and HoloLens hack combines VR and AR for true 'mixed reality'Salah downs Man City to give Liverpool lift[From the Scene] How ‘world’s first oil town’ is wrestling to become ‘green'7 February games you should get excited aboutTottenham's problem solving pleases ConteQatar media hits back at Europe's World Cup 'rights' attacks50 Places to Eat and Drink Before You DieDubai launches self
- ·Gastro Obscura's Guide to Where to Eat in Nashville
- ·Salah downs Man City to give Liverpool lift
- ·French police accused of criminal assault at UCL final
- ·Everyone stop everything: Beyoncé just announced that she's pregnant with twins
- ·It's Unnecessary But, AMD Is Basically Lying About CPU Performance
- ·Korea to check alternate sites for THAAD
- ·Chelsea beat 10
- ·Tensions mount as record numbers crowd French migrant camp
- ·18 Places for Epic Outdoor Adventure Across Colorado
- ·汉源文化产业蓄势待发
- ·7 February games you should get excited about
- ·圈养大熊猫野化培训重新启动
- ·'Black Myth: Wukong' PS5 review in progress: A potential masterpiece
- ·Russian government hackers mined bitcoin to fund attacks on FIFA, anti
- ·Chelsea can expect different Milan at San Siro: Tomori
- ·Everyone stop everything: Beyoncé just announced that she's pregnant with twins
- ·Alcaraz vs. Van de Zandschulp 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- ·汉源文化产业蓄势待发
- ·US has no plans to provide COVID vaccine to N. Korea, but supports int'l efforts
- ·端午节,雅安艾草、菖蒲走俏
- ·高温难耐,工会驿站化身“清凉小屋”
- ·Korea to build network of smart expressways by 2020
- ·大街小巷共“享”足球盛宴
- ·Forging legally binding UN deal banning nuclear weapons 'unrealistic': US official
- ·Newborns hit new low, but births to those unmarried reach record high: data
- ·Everyone stop everything: Beyoncé just announced that she's pregnant with twins
- ·Update your BIOS: Utilities from Top Motherboard Makers
- ·New iPad Pro details leak: 4K over USB
- ·Satellite image suggests massive military parade in North Korea imminent
- ·Samsung A9 has four rear cameras
- ·North Korea says it conducted important test to develop multiple warhead missile
- ·South Korea remains open to another summit with North Korea: minister nominee
- ·Qatar media hits back at Europe's World Cup 'rights' attacks
- ·端午节,雅安艾草、菖蒲走俏
- ·Where to pre
- ·Man City into Champions League last 16