Micro-Enterprises to Rally in Yeouido on June 9... Song Chi-young: "Business Collapse, Blocking Labor Standards Act Expansion"

Five Key Policy Demands: Opposing Expansion of the Labor Standards Act and Calling for Differential Minimum Wage

The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises will hold a resolution rally in Yeouido on June 9 to urge the government and the National Assembly to halt the expanded application of the Labor Standards Act to businesses with fewer than five employees.

Song Chiyoung, President of the Federation of Small and Medium Business, announced on the 1st at the Small and Medium Business Central Council in Yeouido, Seoul, that a Pan-Small Business Resolution Rally will be held on the 9th. Federation of Small and Medium Business

On June 1, Song Chi-young, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises, stated at the Small and Medium Business Administration in Yeouido, Seoul, "Micro-enterprises are already facing a total collapse of all business conditions, struggling under the weight of skyrocketing labor costs, suffocating rents, sharply rising utility bills, high-interest financial expenses, surging costs of raw and subsidiary materials, and various platform service fees. It is truly a 'multifaceted crisis.'

Chairman Song emphasized, "Small business owners running businesses with fewer than five employees, who survive day-to-day, no longer have even the minimum foundation left to withstand the relentless rise in costs and the rapid institutional changes. To correct employment policies that completely ignore the realities of each industry and business scale, and disregard the voices of micro-enterprises, we will hold a nationwide Pan-Micro Enterprise Resolution Rally on June 9."

On June 9, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises plans to gather 3,000 of its members and representatives from organizations advocating for the survival rights of micro-enterprises near the National Assembly Station to launch a large-scale joint response.

The federation will demand five key policy changes from the National Assembly and the government: ▲ halting the expansion of the Labor Standards Act, ▲ a complete overhaul of the minimum wage system, ▲ guaranteeing the right of micro-enterprises to unionize, ▲ opposing the allowance of early morning deliveries by large retail stores, and ▲ enacting a welfare law for micro-enterprises.

Chairman Song declared, "We will resolutely oppose the expansion of the Labor Standards Act, which is driving micro-enterprises to the brink. Forcing these regulations on those who cannot even afford to pay is no different from telling everyone to close their businesses and take to the streets."

He continued, "The main culprit behind the wave of bankruptcies among micro-enterprises is the out-of-touch holiday allowance, which must be abolished immediately. The minimum wage should be applied differentially by industry and business size right away. Employment policies that force unaffordable wages will ultimately become a boomerang that eliminates jobs altogether."

In addition, the federation plans to oppose the allowance of early morning deliveries by large retail stores, call for amendments to the Fair Trade Act to ensure micro-enterprises can defend themselves against platforms and large corporations, and urge the enactment of a Micro-Enterprise Welfare Act to establish an employment stability fund.

Chairman Song pointed out, "Even the president mentioned easing the burden on traditional markets, but there are far more road shops and local businesses that are not even reached by such policies, and it is difficult for them to organize. In this situation, we are left to sigh, so we earnestly call for a genuine solution and strongly oppose the policy to expand the Labor Standards Act to businesses with fewer than five employees."

Chairman Song criticized the current administration's policies for focusing solely on 'labor' and failing to reflect the difficulties faced by micro-enterprises.

He said, "One million micro-enterprises have closed, yet the policies only address labor, not employment, which is why we are strongly dissatisfied. While national income has increased, the minimum wage system has been repeated for over 30 years. The government must provide proper guidance. I question whether the government is truly willing to represent the 7.5 million micro-enterprises."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.