Yonhap News recently reported that capitalistic labor markets, which hire laborers through money payments, are increasing in North Korea. It is reported that the North Korean authorities used to ban the trade of labor forces because it violates socialism, but now overlook it.

 

Various sources in North Korea stated that the North Korean market faces difficulties if it doesn’t buy laborers these days. Trade of the labor force first started in the late 1990s; however, these days the size of it has become so large that even public institutions choose to buy labor forces. According to a defector, recently laborers were paid 10,000 North Korean won daily and even lunch and dinner were provided to them at construction sites in North Korea. The laborer’s daily wage of 10,000~20,000 North Korean won is a lot more then general laborers in North Korea. During harvest season, 10~15kg of corns are provided for daily wage. Since the North Korean authorities don’t really have control over the labor trade, experts foresee that the labor market may become institutionalized in North Korea in the future.