The Ministry of Labor on Thursday set this year’s Equal Pay Day at Feb. 24, based on estimates that Taiwanese women needed to work that far into the year to earn the same amount as the average man did last year.
The date of Equal Pay Day is derived from the estimate that Taiwanese women on average have to work 55 more days than men at their current rate of pay to earn the same amount because their salary is 15 percent less than that of their male coworkers.
This year’s figure is better than last year’s, which came four days later, on Feb. 28 (59 extra working days for women). Equal Pay Day in 2013 was worse still, falling on March 2.
Equal Pay Day is a symbolic day that can be different for each nation. Each nation designates its own Equal Pay Day depending on how many more days it takes working women to earn the same salary as their male counterparts.
The concept was established in 1996 by the US National Committee on Pay Equity. It aims to raise public awareness of the gap between men’s and women’s salaries.
Taiwan’s gender wage gap of 15 percent remains smaller than the US’ 17.5 percent. The next Equal Pay Day in the US is on April 14.
Taiwan’s wage gap is also better than Japan’s 33.5 percent and South Korea’s 30.8 percent last year.
While calling for efforts to further close the gap, the Ministry of Labor said the numbers indicate that salary disparity in the workplace has steadily improved since 2003, when the gender pay gap was at 20.1 percent.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
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