SEOUL, KOREA - The average daily wage of manufacturing workers employed in small-sized enterprises was measured at 69,423 won (US$65.94). The Korea Federation of SMEs said this on December 18 based on a survey on 1,200 small manufacturing firms. This is 5 percent higher than that measured in 2012.

 

By job type, the daily average wage for circuit designers was highest at 113,756 won, followed by electronic publishing printers (104,895 won), safety managers (104,663 won), and draftsmen (104,257 won). 

 

The daily wage for tapping machine operators was lowest at 51,920 won, followed by spinning and weaving machine operators (54,308 won), scrap steel packing machine operators (57,576 won), and rubber product handlers (57,945 won).

 

The daily wage of workers hired in small-scale manufacturing sites has increased 27.1 percent for four years since 2009 from 54,638 won. A Korea Federation of SMEs official said, "Since 2009 the annual average wage growth rate has been 6.1 percent, putting pressure on the small firms' bottom line."