The nation's top economic policy planning official said yesterday that the government believes everyone can share in the benefits of economic growth, but this is dependent on long-term planning and policy work.
Hu Sheng-cheng (
The president, who is embroiled in a spate of corruption allegations implicating himself, his family members and senior aides, said in his hometown in Tainan County on Saturday that he will redouble his efforts in promoting investment in the country, create more job opportunities, reduce the income gap between urban and rural areas and rich and poor during the rest of his term.
Hu said that Taiwan has decent economic growth but would be hard pressed to raise wages due to the globalization trend as well as competition from China.
Because of this, coupled with the fact that wages are lagging behind economic growth, workers cannot feel the benefits of growth, he added.
He said that the government has made every effort to let everyone share the fruits of the nations development, and has in the past offered short-term employment projects as well as vocational training.
But he said the CEPD would look at the issue from a broader perspective, saying that the equitable distribution of wealth hinges on long-term policies, including policy work in education, social security and the tax system.
He said it was necessary to promote industries distinctive to each locality and increase educational opportunities and quality for disadvantaged students, as well as to protect job opportunities for the disadvantaged.
Statistics released by the Di-rectorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics last month show that the average disposable income of households last year was NT$895,000 (US$27,290), up 0.4 percent from 2004.
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