Major business groups expressed opposition to changes to rules regarding the minimum wage after Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) on Friday indicated he would task a screening committee with discussing changes to base pay increases.
Tsai Lien-sheng (蔡練生),
secretary-general of the Taipei-based Chinese National Federation of Industries, and Lai Cheng-i (賴正鎰), president of the General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China, both said the timing “is not appropriate.”
Tsai’s opposition was on the premier’s suggestion to scrap a policy that wage hikes can come only when the consumer price index grows 3 percent annually.
He said that if that condition is met, businesses will not oppose increasing the minimum wage.
He said that the wages of local workers are already higher than the minimum wage, and any adjustments will only benefit foreign workers, diminishing business competitiveness by increasing costs.
Meanwhile, Lai called for workers to patiently await the next adjustment, citing economic growth this year estimated at more than 3 percent and a minimum wage increase implemented last month, which pushed monthly salaries to NT$19,273 from NT$19,047.
Businesses will agree to wage hikes if the economy shows an obvious rebound, he added.
Labor representatives and lawmakers applauded the premier’s remarks.
Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions president Chuang Chueh-an (莊爵安) was positive on the government’s stance and expressed hope for substantive action.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiang Huei-chen (江惠貞) said the Cabinet has been “pragmatic” and that the wage adjustment system should be more flexible.
She also expressed hope that minimum salaries can be raised to NT$20,000 a month.
KMT Legislator Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) said he hopes businesses will share with workers their wealth from this year’s economic rebound, adding he would respect any decision made by the screening committee.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) said wages should be increased to NT$20,000 right away to show “the effects of policymaking.”
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