한국사회법학회

The new industrial structure of the future is creating new innovations and changes, which serve as a crisis factor for the survival of workers living under a democratic system where capitalism is the backbone. The nation's economic growth has been slowing since the global financial crisis, which has led to an increase in youth unemployment and soaring real estate prices. The government is working on raising the minimum wage and reducing working hours in a bid to resolve the polarization of income. However, while the problem of income inequality can be solved by improving the economy and creating more jobs, it is difficult to reduce the significant income gap caused by inequality in wealth. If this trend continues, it will lead to a loss of desire to work and further reduce the marriage and birth rate, which will lead to low growth, further spreading social unrest. Under these circumstances, if the minimum wage system is conducted primarily on support for low-income and low-wage people, it could cut off the economic impact of income for the middle and upper-wage classes. This is because the government's current income-led growth policy is a transfer of the income share of both the upper and middle income brackets. Therefore, it is necessary to come up with effective measures for the minimum wage system by referring to the legislation of advanced countries such as the United States, Britain and France for the operation of the minimum wage system suitable for Korea.