Temps’ Salaries Are Just Half of Those of Regular Workers

The Ministry of Employment & Labor of South Korea announced on May 31 that the average monthly salary of workers at companies in the country hiring at least five employees was 3,393,000 won (US$3,000) in March this year, up 3.4% from a year ago. It added that the average was 3,624,000 won (US$3,200) for the first quarter of this year, up 2.5% from a year earlier.

Specifically, that of regular employees increased 2.9% to 3,575,000 won (US$3,300) and that of temporary workers reached 1.5 million won with a rate of increase of 6.2%. The average was 3,096,000 won (US$2,700) at companies hiring five to 299 employees whereas it was 4,645,000 won (US$4,100) at those hiring at least 300.

The average monthly salary amounted to 7,389,000 won (US$6,600) in the electricity, gas, steam and water supply sector and 6,177,000 won (US$5,500) in finance and insurance. On the other hand, it stood at 1,937,000 won (US$1,700) in lodging and food service and 2,053,000 won (US$1,800) in business facility management and business support service.

In the first quarter, the employees’ average real wage reflecting consumer prices edged up by 0.5% year on year to 3.53 million won (US$3,100). During the same period, their monthly average working hours totaled 179 hours, down 0.8% from a year earlier.

As of the last business day of April this year, in the meantime, the number of South Koreans working for a business hiring at least one person totaled 16,981,000 with a year-on-year growth of 2.3%.