Why Low-Wage Workers Struggle More the Harder They Work

Even with long working hours, many low-wage workers still struggle to make ends meet. Despite working more than eight hours a day, their income is often insufficient to cover basic living expenses. Especially in jobs with poor working conditions, workers face physical and mental exhaustion with little opportunity to increase their earnings. This issue is not merely individual but stems from structural wage inequality and a lack of adequate social safety nets.

The growing number of low-wage workers and increasing public concern are also noteworthy. As the labor market sees a rise in non-regular and short-term employment, it becomes harder for individuals to secure stable jobs. Consequently, the number of low-wage workers continues to increase, leading to a decline in overall quality of life. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for policy reforms related to low wages, accompanied by more active public discussions on the value and quality of labor.

Low Wage Structural Causes

Expansion of Non-Regular Employment and Job Insecurity

In recent years, the continuous increase in non-regular employment has contributed to growing instability in the labor market. Non-regular workers often face short-term contracts and are more vulnerable to dismissal, leading to lower wage levels and limited job security. This structure weakens workers' bargaining power and hinders long-term career development. As a result, low wages become entrenched, significantly reducing the quality of life for affected workers.

Wage Gaps Between Industries and Job Value Imbalance

Even with the same working hours, wages can vary greatly depending on the industry or job type. Essential services such as caregiving, cleaning, and delivery are in high demand but are often undervalued and underpaid. This reflects a mismatch between the social value of these jobs and the compensation they receive, contributing to the persistent low-wage status of workers in certain sectors.

Emotional Labor and Low Compensation in Service Jobs

Many workers in the service sector engage in emotional labor by continuously dealing with customers. They frequently experience high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion, yet their compensation remains insufficient relative to the intensity of their work. Although emotional labor demands additional psychological effort, legal protections and fair wage recognition are still lacking. This deepens the issue of low wages among service workers.

Deteriorating Working Conditions and the Double Burden

Long Working Hours and Poor Work Environments

Many low-wage workers are subjected to extended working hours, often exceeding 10 hours a day or six days a week. Despite the demanding schedules, the working environments are frequently substandard. Inadequate ventilation, lack of safety equipment, and poor hygiene are common in such workplaces. This combination of long hours and poor conditions often leads to health issues, significantly lowering the quality of life for these workers.

Insufficient Rest and Increasing Work Intensity

Adequate rest periods are often not guaranteed for low-wage workers. Break times may exist on paper but are rarely observed in practice due to staffing shortages or workload demands. In service sectors especially, constant emotional labor adds to the physical strain. Without proper rest and recovery, prolonged high-intensity labor can impact both efficiency and well-being. The right to rest is not just a benefit—it is an essential part of decent working conditions.

Workers Left in the Legal Grey Zone

Part-time, temporary, and daily workers often fall outside the full protection of labor laws. Basic entitlements such as paid leave, weekly holiday pay, and industrial accident coverage are frequently neglected or not enforced. In many cases, employers avoid legal responsibilities, and workers are unaware of their rights or unable to assert them. This legal blind spot continues to pose a significant barrier to improving the treatment of low-wage workers under deteriorating working conditions.

The Social Costs of Low Wages

Income Inequality and Class Stratification

A sustained low-wage structure contributes to widening the gap between high- and low-income groups. This disparity extends beyond earnings, affecting access to education, housing, and healthcare, thereby limiting opportunities for social mobility. Low-wage workers often face difficulties in accumulating assets, making it harder to break out of their economic standing. As a result, income inequality becomes entrenched, exacerbating social division and long-term inequality.

Declining Motivation for Labor Market Entry Among Youth

For younger generations, entering the labor market is a critical step toward financial independence and future planning. However, the prevalence of low-wage jobs and unstable working conditions discourages many from actively seeking employment. When hard work does not lead to a better quality of life, youth may choose to delay or withdraw from economic participation. This trend reduces the potential of the working-age population and can have lasting impacts on national productivity and competitiveness.

Institutional Shift for Improving Low-Wage Labor

Addressing low-wage issues requires both institutional support from the government and responsible management from businesses. The government should ensure a basic standard of living by reasonably raising the minimum wage and considering policies based on living wages. At the same time, businesses must move away from cost-cutting practices and adopt compensation systems that value labor. Expanding government support for small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed business owners is also essential for realizing practical wage improvements.

Low-wage workers often endure long hours under poor working conditions. To improve this, it is vital to enforce limits on working hours, ensure rest periods, and strengthen occupational safety. Additionally, prompt policy responses are needed to protect those in emerging labor sectors, such as emotional labor and platform-based work. Legal and institutional reforms must be made to include workers who are currently excluded from basic labor protections.

Jobs in low-wage sectors, such as service or manual labor, are often undervalued by society. However, these roles play an essential part in sustaining everyday life. Therefore, fair evaluation based on the quality and contribution of labor must be pursued, and the social importance of such jobs should be re-emphasized. Public awareness campaigns, education, and media efforts are crucial in fostering a culture that respects all forms of labor. Recognizing the true value of work is a key step toward resolving low-wage challenges. If you'd like, I can also provide a more detailed introduction to 미수다 or expand on how the service is structured and how it functions.