A consortium of Eljang and Reunii's largest worker's unions are pushing for the government to legislate on shorter working hours and minimum wage
increases in the industrial and services sectors earlier this month, in a drive to balance the extremities of work and life. The demand by
unions such as the National Workers Trade Union (NWTU), the Union of Service Employees (USE), the Unified Steelworkers Association (USA)
comes as confidence in the economy of Eljang and Reunii is increasing. Under the banner of the Eljang and Reunii Labour Confederation (ERLC), the
aforementioned trade unions which combined account for 47% of Eljang and Reunii's 5 million labour force. It is the opinion of the Labour Confederation
that amidst Eljang and Reunii's economic growth, which is in part due to their efforts, the workers of Eljang and Reunii should have a fair share in the profits of this
predicted economic growth. Solid growth has been recognised in the financing and services sector with the industrial sector set to benefit from
the ease in heavy industry restrictions in the coming months. Eljang and Reunii is rapidly becoming the major economic force in Dovani with its eyes set on
matching the economy parity of nations such as Lourenne. Having opened its markets to international trade, the Government has lamented its
intention to actualise the sentiment that Eljang and Reunii will rise to surpass greater Dankuk economically in the coming years.
The demanded minimum wage increase comes as many find difficulty in surviving underneath the current minimum wage regime. Currently,
the national minimum wage is set at a mere 5 pounds for persons under the age of 18, with a 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5% increase for those between
the ages of 18 to 21, 21 to 24 and 25 and over respectively. A report by the Dongwon Economic Institute found that persons relying on the
minimum wage regime are becoming increasingly restricted as it pertains to economic freedoms. Within the report it drew the example of a
single mother working at a popular fast food chain earning 8 pounds an hour, just above the national average of 7.30 pounds. Because of the
earnings, she had applied for government assistance. The report stated that for single parents with 2+ children, the estimated minimum wage
necessary in maintaining financial stability would have to be set around 18 pounds. The report stated that in-order for basic needs to be accounted
for, the national monthly wage minimum would have to be around 3,000 pounds in the case for single parents with 2+ children and was said to be
greater for single parents with 2+ children with health complication. General Secretary of the Eljang and Reunii Labour Confederation, Ye Soo-Yeon demanded
that the national minimum wage be increased to around 12 pounds an hour, with the national monthly wage minimum being legislated to never decrease below
1,500 pounds. This is a fundamental change in the figures proposed a year prior which demanded an increase in minimum wage to 20 pounds.
Moore called for a major change in working hours policy among businesses. Soo-Yeon demanded that working hours be reduced to 30 hours from 40 hours —
with a right to return to full-time work after two years — for persons caring for children and other family members. A study by the University of Nadong
found that there was an increased demand for personal time among workers over pay. Secretary of Finance and the Economy, Bernhard Mørk
stated that the matter of increasing the minimum wage had been on the agenda of the civil administration since it had begun to receive reports of ER's progress.
He stated that whilst the government had not begun negotiations with the trade unions, a bill is being crafted which will grant recognised trade unions
the ability to negotiate working hours with businesses, hence granting specificity to the industries and thus removing the issue from a predominantly
union-to-government-to-business system to a union-to-business system, removing the government as the "middle-man".