Economy

CLA greenlights raising Taiwan’s minimum wage

CLA Minister Wang Ju-hsuan (left) chairs the meeting on minimum pay levels Aug. 9. (CNA)

• Publication Date：08/10/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Grace Kuo

Taiwan’s minimum monthly wage will be raised 1.42 percent from NT$18,780 (US$626) to NT$19,407 in 2013, while the hourly wage will be increased to NT$115 in two phases, according to the ROC Council of Labor Affairs Aug. 9.

The basic hourly wage will be adjusted from the current NT$103 to NT$109 beginning Jan. 1, 2013, and further increased to at least NT$115 starting Jan. 1, 2014, if there are no major changes in the domestic and global economies, CLA Minister Wang Ju-hsuan said.

Wang made the announcement after academics and representatives of labor, management and government reached a consensus in a five-hour committee meeting earlier in the day. The committee, established in 2007, meets annually to review minimum pay levels.

“The purpose of setting minimum wages is to ensure laborers’ basic standard of living,” Wang said. “The pay hike reflects the country’s consumer price index and was decided on after taking the current economic and social situation into consideration.

“The decision will be forwarded to the Cabinet for approval,” Wang continued, adding that if it is passed, it will be implemented according to the planned schedule. (THN)

Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw