6) Minimum wage

2011.12.02/ Tuesday class/ Minimum wage

Now, Have we reasonable minumum wage for part-time job people?


 Thesedays, I talked with my friends about payment price so many times. Because most of them start the work just this year. and always the subject is 'is it reasonable payment compair to inflation rate?'. Now this country is not developed country but also not developing country. we just in the middle of that level so some regulation focused on developed level and some regulation focused on developing level. And the standard of the latter is minimum wage regulation. Actually it adapted to every labor but especially for part-time job, minimum wage regulation is terrible.
 As thier presentation, the part-time worker can get the money around 1,400,000won in a month even it added extra-payment for his extra-work. Some people say "if you earn 1,400,000won in a month, that's enough to live" but to him, there is no his own time to enjoy the life except working time because he has to extra-work. Also if you get 1,400,000won, you can't save the money for your band account. never!
 So, I think we should change the regulation about minimum wage. Because compair to inflation rate, the price is too low. For instance, If you working in Starbucks, you can earn almost 4,300won in hour. Maybe working for Starbucks is very easy but I think this work is very particular job. Anyway, after hour, you want to drink a coffee like caffelatte. Caffelatte price in starbucks is 4,300won. That means you work so hard during hour, and then you can buy just a cup of coffee. Also that means, you can't buy your dinner even you work during hour! I think it makes no sense.

 Furhtermore, most of part-time job is physical labor so its more dangerous and hard than office work. (here, I just compaired to physical thing.) And also so many poor students try to get a part-time job. 4,300 won for 1hour, I think its too low price if they understand about part-time job people's sweat and effort, they have to change this ragulation of minimum wage. It just not problem about price, Its all about welfare for people's labor.
Thanks.