Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling People Power Party, second from right, speaks during a seminar held on the issue of introducing a separate minimum wage system for foreign workers at the National Assembly in Seoul, Aug. 27, 2024. Na has urged the government to begin discussions on whether Korea should withdraw from the anti-discrimination treaty for foreign workers, blaming the minimum wage and international regulations for problems with the foreign nanny policy here. Newsis
A prominent ruling party legislator has called on the government to begin discussions on whether Korea should withdraw from a global anti-discrimination convention for foreign workers, blaming the minimum wage and international regulations for problems associated with the foreign nanny trial program here.
In a statement released Saturday on social media, Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling People Power Party specifically targeted the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Convention No. 111, which requires member states to prohibit discrimination on any basis including of race and national origin, among others.
“There is no exception to our minimum wage rule … As a member of the ILO Convention No. 111, we cannot have a separate minimum wage system for foreign nationals. What's the way then? We should look at Singapore and Hong Kong where there is no minimum wage system or the convention is not applied to foreigners,” the lawmaker said. “We should also consider withdrawing from the convention.”
Her remarks came a day after the announcement that the foreign nanny program would not be expanded after a six-month trial period with 98 workers ends on Feb. 28. Initially, officials had planned to expand the scheme by inviting 1,200 caregivers from the Philippines and other nations early this year as part of efforts to boost Korea's declining birthrate. However, the plan has been stalled amid complaints from residents and policymakers about the higher-than-expected service costs.
Several politicians of the conservative party suggested there should be a separate minimum wage system for noncitizen employees. But Na is the first one to openly support the idea of backing out of the ILO convention over the issue.
A spokesperson of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said the ministry has not considered withdrawing from the convention or received any official requests to do so from any National Assembly members yet.
Speaking to The Korea Times, Monday, experts warned that the consequences of proceeding with such a plan could be profound — far beyond damage to the country's reputation.
“For example, in each of the free trade agreements Korea signed with other countries, there is a labor chapter, where the two parties may be required to comply with the rules governed by the ILO. If Korea decides to withdraw from the convention, the other party may bring the case to the World Trade Organization, accusing Korea of violating the agreement,” a labor expert said on condition of anonymity.
A major labor group also expressed concerns about Na's proposal.
“I wonder whether the lawmaker's office properly assessed the economic risks posed by such a move. I think it could be met with corresponding, undesirable action from other countries,” said an official at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation's two largest umbrella labor unions with more than 1 million members. “The government should not make hasty moves over such a critical matter without a thorough evaluation of its long-term risks.”
The labor union released a statement accusing the lawmaker of racial discrimination, saying an attempt to create a system to pay migrant workers less than citizens is “an international embarrassment.”
Since joining the ILO in 1991, Korea has ratified a total of 30 ILO Conventions, including Convention No. 111. According to the ILO's website, 175 out of all 187 member states have ratified the convention. Brunei, Japan, Singapore, Myanmar, Oman and the U.S. are among those that did not sign it.