Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor announces the minimum wage rate of 4,320 Won per hour (In a night shift between 10pm-6am, employer has to pay employee an extra 50% of normal wage rate or equivalent to 6,480 Won per hour) , which takes effect during 1 January- 31 December 2011. This way, an employment contract specifies the total normal number of working hour per week as 40 or 44 hours with the following formula for minimum wage rate calculation per month:
*Formula for the calculation of standard wage rate for total working hour of 44 hours*
[44 hours (normal working hours per week) + 8 hours (holiday pay) X 365 days (per year)/ 7 days (per week)/ 12 months] = 226 hours X 4,320 Won, equivalent to the minimum wage rate of 976,320 Won per month
*Formula for the calculation of standard wage rate of the total working hour of 40 hours*
[40 hours (per week) + 8 hours (holiday pay) X 365 days (per year)/12 months] = 209 hours X 4,320 Won, equivalent to the minimum wage rate of 902, 880 Won per month
This minimum wage rate does not apply to workers who are on the trial period. However, they are obliged to receive at least 90 % of the minimum wage rate, or equivalent to 3,888 Won. In a case where an employee does not meet the number of hours prescribed in an employment contract, an employer can pay employee his wages at an hour rate in respect of actual hours he has worked for.
In a case where it is necessary for an employer to temporarily halt its operation due to his own cause, the employer shall pay his employees at least 70 percent of the average wages for the period of time the employer does not require employee to work.
More news/update on situation of Thai workers in Korea can be found at http://korea.mol.go.th/
