SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — According to convenience store industry watchers on Sunday, it has become almost impossible to find part-time work at convenience stores due to the increase in the minimum wage this year.

With sales declining due to a sluggish economy and excessive competition, convenience store owners are having trouble paying part-time employees.

There is a tendency in the convenience store industry for owners to hire extra workers. This is not because of good business. It is a desperate measure on the part of owners to minimize their labor costs.

When part-time workers work more than 15 hours a week, owners are obliged to cover weekly vacation pay.

For those who cannot offer to hire more workers, it is not uncommon for owners and their family members to work to reduce labor costs as the minimum wage has increased sharply.

The minimum wage rose 10.9 percent this year to 8,350 won (US$7.42).

For employees to make living out of working at a convenience store, they need to work at least 10 hours a day for five days a week, but most cannot find a job that suits their requirements.

Many job seekers are complaining about the matter, but shop owners simply cannot meet the needs of job seekers.

As the minimum wage has risen by 30 percent over the past couple of years, and the weekly vacation pay has to be paid, it is true that shop owners are feeling the pinch when it comes to labor costs.

As such, the number of part-time workers working fewer than 15 hours a week has increased, whereas the number of part-time workers working more than 15 hours decreased.

Although working hours are shorter and the pay is lower, there are still a significant number of job seekers in the convenience store industry.

Under current social circumstances in which many young Koreans have difficulty finding a job, many are will to lower their standards to take any job available to them.

While it was difficult to find workers last year, this year employers have been inundated with responses from job seekers immediately after posting job ads.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)