The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vows to improve workers’ rights by amending laws that would promote a shorter workweek and a higher minimum wage, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday, while calling on the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to stop prioritizing cross-strait relations over labor issues.
The DPP legislative caucus has proposed an amendment to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) that would change current regulations defining regular work as 84 hours every two weeks to 40 hours per week, and will push for the legislation of a minimum wage act that ensures workers can enjoy an income necessary to meet basic living standards, Tsai said while attending a religious ceremony in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山).
The DPP also plans to put forth legislation regulating the labor dispatch industry to reduce abuse as part of the party’s upcoming policies aimed at improving working conditions and labor rights, she said.
The Taiwanese workforce suffers from substandard working conditions, including low wages and long working hours, while the legal minimum monthly wage — NT$19,273 — is not adequate for workers to meet their basic needs, Tsai said.
Asked to comment on the likely KMT presidential hopefuls for next year’s presidential election, Tsai — the DPP’s presidential candidate — said it is the KMT’s business to work out its nomination, while the DPP is preparing for next year’s presidential and legislative elections by directly engaging itself with the public.
The DPP must not underestimate the KMT, despite flagging support for the party because of its poor performance, as the KMT still holds abundant resources and a strong grassroots political network, she said.
Asked about the meeting between New Taipei City Mayor and KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) at the annual KMT forum with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Monday, Tsai reiterated that the KMT should know how to differentiate between KMT-CCP exchanges and cross-strait relations.
“Cross-strait relations are not KMT-CCP relations and should not be regarded as such,” she said, adding that manipulating cross-strait issues through the media would only compromise Taiwan’s interests.
That the KMT government was working on cross-strait affairs on Labor Day suggests that it is out of touch with society, and the cross-strait achievements that it has been boasting do not conform with public sentiment, she said.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
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