In response to demands for a reduction in President Chen Shui-bian's (
"The president receives NT$822,000 per month. This is higher than the world average but not higher than those of some countries such as Singapore and the US," Chu said at a press conference yesterday, adding that the vice president's monthly salary of NT$620,000 would also be reviewed.
In fact, Chen's salary ranks second only to that of the Singaporean president. The US intends to raise its president's salary shortly, but until it does so, President Chen will continue to receive greater remuneration than US presidents.
"Factors to consider in determining a reasonable salary include GNP, the national budget, government officials' salary structures and those of the private sector," said Ou Yu-chan (
DPP legislator Lin Cho-shui (
The CPA was reluctant to reveal more details of the salary plan yesterday, but insisted that Chen had not expressed concern over the matter.
The DPP, before it came to power, had long argued that salaries for the president and vice president in Taiwan were way too high. In order to dampen such criticism, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) had in recent years refused salary increases.
The CPA yesterday also announced a planned 3 percent salary rise for civil servants effective Jan. 1, at a total cost of NT$20 billion -- including NT$15.1 billion for central government employees.
Chu further added that the CPA was also working on a performance-related bonus program for the central government.
The previous administration had operated a year-end bonus program (年終獎金), under which civil servants with "excellent" performance ratings were rewarded with up to three month's salary in year-end bonuses while others received only half that. Chu, however, said such measures would not be followed, and a new scheme would be settled upon.
"We will come up with new measures for bonus distribution within three months," he said.
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