Major restaurant chains have announced pay increases to attract and retain workers amid a labor shortage as they emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wowprime Corp (王品) — which operates Wang Steak (王品台塑牛排), Tasty (西堤), Japanese eatery Tokiya (陶板屋), teppanyaki restaurant Chamoinx (夏慕尼), low-priced hot-pot chain 12 Sabu (石二鍋) and other brands — is to raise wages by 3 to 7.5 percent next year, the company said yesterday.
The adjustments would lift monthly wages for full-time employees to NT$33,000 to NT$34,400 (US$1,060.58 to US$1,105.58), Wowprime chairman Chen Cheng-hui (陳正輝) said in a statement.
Photo: CNA
Wowprime is to resume its year-end banquets next month, with 9,000 employees expected to attend events across Taiwan, Chen said.
In addition, the company next year would restart an overseas travel program for employees following a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, he said.
Since the program was started in 1995 to the start of the pandemic in 2020, more than 50,000 people have benefited from the travel program, which included visits to 33 destinations, including in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the US, he said.
The company is to mark its 30th anniversary next year, Chen said.
Wowprime plans to launch a new teppanayki restaurant in Taipei next month that would feature Wagyu beef dishes, he added.
Hi-Lai Foods Co (漢來美食) — which operates buffet Hilai Restaurant (漢來海港餐廳), Hi-Lai Vegetarian Restaurant (漢來蔬食) and luxury Cantonese restaurant Celebrity Cuisine (名人坊) — said it would hike wages next year after an average increase of 6 percent this year that benefitted 92 percent of its workers, particularly kitchen staff.
Restaurants and hotels in Taiwan have complained about labor shortages as young people prefer to work for technology firms.
Louisa Professional Coffee Ltd (路易莎咖啡) said it increased pay for full-time employees by NT$1,000 to NT$35,000 a month, adding that pay for part-time workers would rise to NT$176 from NT$168 an hour next month.
Louisa said it intends to boost hourly pay to NT$180 next year for qualified part-time workers.
The coffee chain said it allows employees to work straight hours without vacant shifts, which cut into free time.
Vacant shifts are common at most restaurants.
Its employees would be eligible for travel subsidies as well as birthday, marriage and childbirth gifts, it said.
TTFB Co (瓦城泰統集團) — which operates Thai Town Cuisine (瓦城泰式料理), Very Thai Restaurant (非常泰), 1010 Hunan Cuisine (1010湘), Very Thai Noodles (大心新泰式麵食), Ten Ten Hunan Bistro (十食湘) and Shann Rice Bar (時時香) — said it adjusts wages on a yearly basis in line with performance assessments.
Outstanding employees would receive a raise of 15 to 20 percent, it said.
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