The labor ministry says it will seek public opinion before deciding whether to call a meeting to review the minimum wage. That’s the word from a labor ministry official on Tuesday.
The labor ministry has been under fire recently for failing to abide by a law that requires it to review the minimum wage in the third quarter of every year.
At a meeting held last August, the labor ministry said it will review the minimum wage only if the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is more than 3% from the same period last year.
Labor rights activists on Tuesday accused the government of acting in violation of the spirit of the law. They demanded that the labor ministry call a meeting right away.
The labor ministry official said the CPI hit a 17-month record high in July and it has not been easy for those with lower incomes. But the official insists on seeking public opinion before deciding whether to call a meeting.