 © 한국경제인협회 |
브레이크뉴스 문홍철 기자= 자영업자의 10명 중 6명(63.4%)은 올해 경영상황이 작년 대비 악화됐다고 응답했으며, 절반(50.0%)은 현재의 최저임금(2025년 최저시급 1만30원)이 이미 경영에 많은 부담으로 작용하고 있다고 답했다.
한국경제인협회가 여론조사기관 모노리서치에 의뢰해 전국 자영업자 500명을 대상으로 실시한 ‘2025 자영업자 경영환경 인식조사’에 따르면 현재의 최저임금 수준이 경영에 부담된다고 응답한 비중을 업종별로 보면 △숙박·음식점업 64.2% △도·소매업 51.9% △교육서비스업 50.0% △제조업 48.4% 등이었다.
내년 최저임금의 적정 인상률에 대한 질문에 자영업자들은 ‘동결’(44.2%)해야 한다는 응답을 가장 많이 꼽았다. 이어 △1%~3% 미만 (21.2%) △ 인하(15.0%) △3%~6% 미만(10.2%) 순이었다.
내년 최저임금을 ‘동결’해야 한다는 응답 비중을 업종별로 살펴보면, ‘숙박‧음식점업’(59.3%)이 가장 높았으며, △도·소매업(44.9%) △건설, 부동산 등 기타(42.7%) 등이었다.
내년도 최저임금 인상 시 고용에 미치는 영향을 묻는 질문에 자영업자의 65.0%는 현재도 이미 고용여력이 없다고 응답했으며, 최저임금을 △1%~3% 미만 인상 시 7.4% △3%~6% 미만 인상 시 9.4%가 고용을 포기하거나 기존 직원 수를 줄이는 것을 고려할 것이라고 응답했다.
최저임금이 얼마나 인상되면 판매가격을 인상할 것이냐는 질문에 자영업자 3명 중 1명(31.2%)은 현재 최저임금 수준에서도 이미 판매가격 인상 계획을 가지고 있다고 답했으며, 최저임금을 △1~3% 미만 인상 시 22.8% △ 3~6% 미만 인상 시 20.4%가 판매가격 인상을 고려할 것이라고 답했다.
한경협은 “최근 곡물, 축산물 등 원재료 가격의 급격한 상승으로 외식업계, 도·소매업계의 비용 부담이 가중되고 있는 상황에서, 최저임금 인상은 자영업자의 고용 여력을 더욱 약화시킬 수 있다”며 “이러한 재정적 부담이 판매가격 인상으로 전가될 가능성이 있다”고 지적했다.
아울러 자영업자 3명 중 1명(30.4%)은 최저임금(월 209만6270원, 주40시간 근로 기준) 수준도 못 버는 것으로 나타났다. 이어 △250만 원 이상 300만 원 미만(20.4%) △최저임금 수준 이상 250만 원 미만(18.8%) △350만 원 이상 400만 원 미만(11.6%) 순이었다.
폐업을 고려하게 되는 최저임금 인상률을 묻는 질문에 대해 자영업자 28.8%는 이미 한계상황이며, 최저임금을 △1~3% 미만 인상할 경우 9.6% △3~6% 미만 인상할 경우 11.6%가 폐업을 고려할 것이라고 응답했다.
자영업자들은 현행 최저임금 제도와 관련, 개선이 시급한 과제로 △경제상황 등을 고려한 인상률 제한(24.2%) △업종별·지역별 최저임금 차등적용(21.6%) △사용자 지불능력 등 최저임금 결정기준 보완(15.1%) 등을 지목했다.
이상호 한경협 경제산업본부장은 “식료품 물가 상승과 내수 침체 장기화로 자영업자와 소상공인의 경영여건이 크게 악화된 상황에서 최저임금을 급격히 인상할 경우, 초단시간 근로자 증가와 고용 위축 등 노동시장에 부정적 영향을 미칠 수 있다”며 “영세사업장의 경영 부담을 덜고 민생경제의 활력을 높이기 위해서는 올해 최저임금 결정에 있어, 사업주의 지불 능력, 고용 상황 등을 종합적으로 고려한 신중한 접근이 필요하다”고 말했다.
break9874@naver.com
*아래는 위 기사를 '구글 번역'으로 번역한 영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. 구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.>
63.4% of self-employed people, business situation worsens this year.. “Minimum wage is still burdensome”
Six out of ten self-employed people (63.4%) responded that their business conditions have worsened this year compared to last year, and half (50.0%) responded that the current minimum wage (minimum wage of 13,000 won per hour in 2025) is already a burden on their management.
According to the ‘2025 Self-employed Business Environment Perception Survey’ conducted by the Korea Economic Association and polling agency Monoresearch on 500 self-employed people nationwide, the percentage of people who responded that the current minimum wage level is a burden on their management was △Accommodation and food service industry 64.2% △Wholesale and retail industry 51.9% △Education service industry 50.0% △Manufacturing industry 48.4%, etc.
When asked about the appropriate increase rate for the minimum wage next year, the most common response from self-employed people was that it should be ‘frozen’ (44.2%). Next were △1%~3% or less (21.2%), △reduction (15.0%), and △3%~6% or less (10.2%).
Looking at the percentage of responses that the minimum wage should be ‘frozen’ next year by industry, ‘accommodation and food service’ (59.3%) was the highest, followed by △wholesale and retail (44.9%), and △others such as construction and real estate (42.7%).
In response to the question about the impact of the minimum wage increase next year on employment, 65.0% of self-employed workers responded that they are already unable to hire, and if the minimum wage is increased by △1%~3% or less, 7.4% and if it is increased by △3%~6% or less, 9.4% responded that they will consider giving up hiring or reducing the number of existing employees.
When asked how much the minimum wage must be raised before they raise their sales prices, 1 in 3 (31.2%) self-employed workers answered that they already have plans to raise their sales prices even at the current minimum wage level, and 22.8% said they would consider raising their sales prices if the minimum wage were raised by △1~3% or less, and 20.4% said they would consider raising their sales prices if the minimum wage were raised by △3~6% or less.
The Korea Economic Daily pointed out that “in the current situation where the cost burden of the restaurant industry and the wholesale/retail industry is increasing due to the recent rapid rise in the prices of raw materials such as grains and livestock products, an increase in the minimum wage could further weaken the employment capacity of the self-employed,” and “there is a possibility that this financial burden will be transferred to an increase in sales prices.”
In addition, 1 in 3 (30.4%) self-employed workers were found to be earning less than the minimum wage (KRW 2,096,270 per month, based on a 40-hour workweek). Next, the order was △2.5 million won or more but less than 3 million won (20.4%), △minimum wage level or more but less than 2.5 million won (18.8%), and △3.5 million won or more but less than 4 million won (11.6%).
In response to the question asking about the minimum wage increase rate that would make them consider closing down, 28.8% of self-employed workers responded that they were already at their limit, and that if the minimum wage were increased by △1~3% or less, 9.6% would consider closing down, and if it were increased by △3~6% or less, 11.6% would consider closing down.
In relation to the current minimum wage system, self-employed workers pointed out the following urgent tasks for improvement: △limiting the increase rate considering economic conditions, etc. (24.2%), △differentiating minimum wage by industry and region (21.6%), and △supplementing the minimum wage determination criteria such as employers’ payment ability (15.1%).
Lee Sang-ho, head of the Economic and Industrial Headquarters at the Korea Economic Council, said, “If the minimum wage is raised sharply at a time when the management conditions of the self-employed and small business owners have significantly worsened due to rising food prices and a prolonged domestic economic slump, it could have negative effects on the labor market, such as an increase in short-term workers and a decrease in employment.” He added, “In order to reduce the management burden on small businesses and increase the vitality of the people’s economy, a prudent approach that comprehensively considers employers’ payment capabilities and employment situations is needed in determining this year’s minimum wage.”
