KMT struggling to pay the salaries of its staff workers

The Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) 1,700 staff workers yesterday finally received their long-awaited paychecks for the month of November, which should have been issued at the first of the month.

As to whether they will receive payment for this month on time today -- as staff are supposed to be paid on the first of every month -- director of the KMT's Workers' Union (國民黨產業工會) Liu Chien-sung (劉建崧) yesterday said they will wait to worry about it later.

"We are just glad that we have received [November's] paycheck today," Liu said.

Chang Che-chen (張哲琛), director general of the KMT's administration, yesterday said the party is still working on the workers' salary for this month and will communicate with the workers should any problems arise.

The KMT Union on Nov. 19 filed a complaint with the Taipei City Government's Bureau of Labor Affairs concerning the KMT's delayed payment.

Stating that the KMT had delayed its November paycheck for KMT workers in violation of the Labor Standards Law (勞基法), the union said it filed the complaint because the party has been oblivious to the worker queries about the delay in payment. With nowhere else to turn, Liu said the workers made the appeal to the Taipei City Government, seeking its help in safeguarding their rights.

After the complaint was filed with the city, Chang responded by saying that payment had been delayed "for just a few days." He also promised that the party would issue paychecks by the end of last month, adding that the party has in the past issued paychecks on the first day of every month, while most civic organizations pay their staff at the end of each month.

Liu yesterday said that he hoped the party will maintain its customary practice of paying staff at the first of each month and that KMT workers do not always have to worry about when they will be paid.