A number of significant employment law changes are imminent in South Korea. They include a new minimum wage, new penalties for workplace harassment and remedies for gender discrimination and sexual harassment claims, plus leave and working hour adjustments for pregnant employees.
On 19 July 2021 the South Korean government announced the 2022 minimum wage as KRW 9,160 (approximately USD 7.92) per hour. This is a KRW440 increase (roughly 5%) from the 2021 minimum wage of KRW 8,720 per hour.
The announced 2022 hourly minimum wage corresponds to a monthly minimum wage of KRW 1,914,440 assuming a standard 40-hour work week with eight hours of paid weekly time off (totalling 209 hours a month).
The Labor Standards Act already requires an employer to promptly investigate reports of (non-sexual) workplace harassment; take appropriate measures (if any) to protect the alleged victim (such as relocation); and take appropriate action against the offender if harassment occurred. However, there are currently no specific penalties for failure to do so.
Effective 14 October 2021, employers' obligations will be expanded and new penalties introduced.
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