The minimum wage has sparked heated debate in the nation, including whether to raise the minimum wage on a national level or whether to establish guidelines for differing minimum wages based on region.
Minister of Labor Pan Shih-wei (潘世偉) has said that the ministry would keep the national minimum wage system intact and has denied reports that it has drafted a plan that would allow counties and cities to set their own minimum wages, although he said they can set different living wage levels based on the cost of living in their respective areas.
A living wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs, Pan said.
The US federal government mandates a nationwide minimum wage, while 72 states and municipalities have set minimum living wage levels that are higher than the federal minimum wage, Pan said.
The ministry’s proposal for minimum wages based on region has drawn flak from the heads of several local governments who think such a move could stop skilled workers looking for jobs in the south, widening the wealth gap between rural areas in southern Taiwan and urban areas in the north.
The mayors of Greater Taichung, Greater Tainan and Greater Kaohsiung, as well as labor groups, have publicly expressed opposition to the concept.
Labor groups say the ministry is simply attempting to pass the buck to local governments.
In response, Pan said the measure would not necessarily widen the wealth gap between the south and the north.
Given the relatively low living wage levels in the south, more companies could be willing to set up factories there, which could help buoy the local economy, the minister said.
Noting that implementing a system of living wages is not mandatory and that it would not involve a revision to the law, Pan said the ministry would convene a meeting with representatives of various sectors of society to discuss the proposal.
Meanwhile, two of the newly installed vice chairmen of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) — Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) — have offered their suggestions regarding the minimum wage and workers’ rights.
After raising the minimum wage for Taipei City Government temporary workers this month, Hau also urged the central government to increase the national minimum wage this year.
Chu put forward the idea of encouraging employers to share profits with their employees by offering employers preferential tax treatment through tax reforms.
Earlier this year, Chu also proposed giving workers more paid leave.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated