Government to Overhaul Statistics on Contractual and Platform Workers

The government is resuming an investigation into the scale and working conditions of digital platform workers for the first time in three years. This survey focuses on capturing the status of workers employed through contracting intermediaries (contractual workers) and platform workers at a national statistical level. The data obtained will serve as foundational material for discussions on worker protection and the application of the minimum wage system. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that from September to November, it will conduct a survey analyzing the number of platform workers, the types of jobs they do, and their earnings, targeting approximately 10,000 individuals nationwide aged 15 to 69. Previous surveys were not recognized as official statistics due to issues with sample representativeness, but this time, the survey methodology has been improved to meet national statistical standards and enhance reliability.

The resumption of this survey comes amid ongoing discussions at the Minimum Wage Committee regarding whether to apply a separate minimum wage for workers employed under contract or similar arrangements. Many platform workers, such as delivery riders and couriers, are often not recognized as employees under the Labor Standards Act, frequently excluding them from minimum wage coverage. Labor unions have argued for expanding the scope of minimum wage application to include special employment contractors and platform workers to address these blind spots. The Ministry of Employment and Labor pointed out that while platform workers, who do not fall under the traditional categories of wage earners or self-employed individuals, are increasing, protective systems remain inadequate. The ministry stated its intention to reflect the scale and conditions of workers outside the formal system in policy design.

This survey is expected to spark a competition of evidence between labor and management regarding the scope of minimum wage application. Labor unions intend to use the survey results to emphasize the need for expanding the system, citing the scale of the blind spot for platform workers and their income levels. Management, on the other hand, maintains a cautious stance, expressing concerns about the payment capacity limits of small business owners and the self-employed, the difficulties in calculating working hours, and the surging costs. On August 26th, Ryu Ki-jeong, Executive Vice President of the Korea Employers Federation, argued during a Minimum Wage Committee meeting that while industrial production is expected to increase in 2026, caution is needed on minimum wage hikes due to decreased production in sectors like accommodation and food services. He emphasized that the payment capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners should be prioritized. He also stressed the necessity of differentiated application for vulnerable sectors that cannot afford the current high minimum wage levels. Ryu Ki-seop, Secretary-General of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, countered by stating that the constitutional scope of minimum wage protection should encompass platform workers, respecting the diversity of their working patterns. He highlighted the minimum wage as the most direct system for raising the income and status of low-wage workers, adding that the policy responsibility of the minimum wage system will become even more severe and crucial.

Platform workers often face reduced real incomes due to the practice of excluding allowances and bonuses from minimum wage calculations, as they are frequently not recognized as employees under the Labor Standards Act. This survey aims to provide foundational data for discussions on improving minimum wage calculation methods by specifically identifying the income and working conditions of these platform workers. As the minimum wage must be announced by August 5th, this survey, which begins in September, cannot be directly reflected in this year's decision-making process. Therefore, it is expected to primarily accumulate evidence for medium-to-long-term policy design aimed at regulating platform work within the formal system and realigning minimum wage coverage, rather than leading to immediate policy changes.