This file photo shows taxis in Seoul during late hours. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Platform workers and cab drivers earned less than the minimum hourly wage last year, a labor group said Monday.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions conducted a survey of 600 platform laborers which showed that their monthly income jumped from 2,995,000 won (US$2,305) when social distancing measures were still in effect to 3,442,000 won after the social distancing measures were lifted.
Due to the soaring cost of food and gasoline, however, their net income dropped from 2.3 million won to 2,167,000 won.
The average hourly wage earned by platform workers last year was 9,900 won, slightly higher than 9,160 won in the previous year.
Sorted by industry, food delivery staff earned 11,000 won, chauffeurs 10,000 won, taxi drivers 8,100 won and housekeepers 8,700 won per hour.
The only way for platform workers to overcome the financial impact of inflation is to work longer hours, the labor group pointed out.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
