Minimum wage to be raised
Source: China Post (09/20/2016)
The Executive Yuan announced Monday that the minimum monthly and hourly wage would be increased in Taiwan.
Under the wage hike plan, the minimum monthly wage will be raised from NT$20,008 (US$639) to NT$21,009, a 5 percent increase, effective Jan. 1, 2017. The minimum hourly wage will be adjusted from NT$120 per hour to NT$126 starting Oct. 1 this year, and will be further increased to NT$133 per hour on Jan. 1, 2017.
Around 1.62 million workers, including some 370,000 foreign workers and 390,000 part-time employees, will benefit from the latest wage adjustments, Labor Minister Kuo Fong-yu said.
The hourly wage increase is said to have been in consideration of amendments to the Labor Standards Act starting this year, including a 40-hour work/ week to replace the original maximum of 84 hours every two weeks.
Taiwan Institute of Economic Research President Jeff Lin said earlier that a 5-percent increase is reasonable given that the country's salary levels have remained low and average real wages have even declined to levels 16 years ago.