President Lee Jae-myung has expressed support for disclosing wages in job postings, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the government agency responsible for the issue, has already raised concerns about potential employment contraction during its review of related legislation.
According to the National Assembly on the 22nd, at least four "Fair Hiring Act" amendment bills requiring specific working conditions including wages and working hours to be stated in job postings have been introduced in the 22nd National Assembly. The bills align with remarks President Lee made at a labor policy forum on the 19th. At the forum, one participant noted that "it is difficult for applicants to easily find salary information in job postings," to which President Lee responded, "I think disclosure of at least the average is necessary."
Calls for wage disclosure to ensure fairness in hiring procedures and protect job seekers' rights have been persistent. In 2018, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recommended that the Labor Ministry develop measures to mandate wage disclosure in job postings. In the ministry's 2022 "Fair Hiring Act Public Survey," 24% of respondents selected "more specific hiring information" as their top choice.
However, the Labor Ministry has already expressed concerns about potential side effects of the proposed legislation. In its review report on a bill introduced by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-woo, the ministry stated, "Employers may bear the burden of justifying changes to working conditions," adding that "they may respond by providing minimal information in job postings or reducing hiring." Under the Fair Hiring Act, companies can be fined for "false postings" if advertised and actual contract conditions differ, which could make businesses more cautious.
Noh Min-sun, a research fellow at the Korea Small Business Institute, said, "Small and medium-sized enterprises may view wage disclosure as a business risk. Policies that are expected to raise concerns in the field require a delicate approach."
Some observers note that President Lee's statement that disclosure "appears necessary" has put the Labor Ministry in an awkward position, given its previously expressed reservations. Regarding the controversy, a Labor Ministry official said, "We will support in-depth discussions on the bills."