Jo Ji-yeon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, introduced a bill on Disability Day to eliminate the exemption that excludes people with severe disabilities from minimum wage protections and to establish a legal basis for state support.On the 20th, Jo Ji-yeon (chair of the People Power Party’s Committee on Accompanying the Vulnerable and the representative for Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang) sponsored a partial amendment to the Minimum Wage Act.
Under current law, employers may exclude workers from minimum wage coverage if mental or physical disabilities severely limit their ability to work.
That exemption has left many workers with severe disabilities trapped in low-wage employment for years.
As of 2024, the average monthly pay for workers with disabilities was about 400,000 KRW (approximately $300), approximately one-eighth of the average for all workers and about one-fifth of the minimum wage. The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has also recommended that South Korea remove this provision.
The proposed amendment would delete the exemption that excludes disabled workers from minimum wage protections and permit the government to subsidize part of the minimum wage paid by employers, aiming to prevent job losses and reduce the financial burden on businesses.
Jo said the measure would “guarantee the labor rights of people with severe disabilities and distribute the burden between the state and employers,” and she added that the bill would “establish the institutional foundation to expand work opportunities and ensure fair compensation.”
She also filed an amendment to the Special Education Act to improve teacher-to-student ratios for preschool children and students in special education. Jo has continued legislative efforts to protect disability rights, including hosting related forums.
