Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) Chairman Lee Ying-yuan (
Lee also expressed regret over the Cabinet's delay in increasing the minimum wage.
Lee's move followed comments Su made in the legislature about Lee's previous boss, former premier Frank Hsieh (
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
He said he had found it difficult to deal with Su's insinuation that Hsieh was a crafty politician. Lee, who served as Hsieh's campaign manager in last year's Taipei mayoral election, stopped short of endorsing Hsieh's presidential bid.
Saying the decision had been difficult, Lee told a press conference that he had tendered his resignation to Su at noon.
He said he wished to follow the example of former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Lin I-hsiung (
"I'd like to return to the origin of the fundamental values of the DPP and listen to the voice of grassroots supporters," he said.
The Executive Yuan's delay in increasing the minimum wage also attributed to his resignation because the Cabinet had failed workers, Lee said.
The council has proposed increasing the minimum monthly wage ranging between 7.5 percent and 9.5 percent, arguing that the consumer price index had risen by 7.5 percent over the past decade while the minimum wage was unchanged.
The Cabinet decided not to review the proposal at today's weekly meeting, postponing it until after the DPP's primary ends next week.
Su said yesterday that he did not know about Lee's decision in advance.
"I spent the whole morning here fielding your questions," Su told the legislature yesterday afternoon. "I did not know that he was resigning until I returned to my office during the lunch break."
"I have asked him to stay. If he needs time to help campaign he can be excused, but not resign," Su said.
He said there was no substantive difference between himself and Lee on the minimum wage, which could be raised by July 1.
He said, however, that the council's plan should not be made public until all necessary measures are in place.
Lee's resignation gave Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) an opportunity to tease Su on the legislative floor.
"This is funny ... One of your Cabinet members has quit his job to support your opponent," Lai said.
In Yunlin County yesterday afternoon, Lee said he appreciated Su's desire for him to stay on, but felt that he should step down to take responsibility for the government's failure to finalize the wage hike before Labor Day.
Lee's resignation could hurt Su in the DPP's presidential primary.
Hsieh said that he appreciated Lee's support, but he declined to comment on whether Lee's action would have a domino effect on other government officials.
Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang and CNA
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Executive Yuan postpones minimum wage proposal
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