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.
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
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