The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus today said it plans to raise salaries for military service members to be at least on par with the minimum wage, as it seeks to address a shortage of volunteers.
The change is part of a package of four reforms the party is planning for military salaries.
Apart from the minimum wage increase, the party also hopes to increase the volunteer military service allowance from NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 (US$304 to US$912), raise overtime pay and combat unit allowances, and improve benefits.
Photo: Lin Hsin-han, Taipei Times
President William Lai’s (賴清德) plan to raise military spending to more than 3 percent of GDP would raise existing spending of NT$640 billion, or about 2.4 percent of GDP, to more than NT$800 billion, KMT caucus secretary-general Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) said.
This hike should also benefit active-duty personnel, she said.
As the armed forces face recruitment challenges, it makes sense to increase salaries and benefits to attract young people to join, Wang added.
There are few volunteers because pay is too low, KMT Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) said.
Only by increasing wages can the military ensure that soldiers have enough to support their families while defending the country, Hsu said.
Increasing wages should take priority over arms purchases, she added.
The KMT caucus would propose amendments to the Pay Act of the Armed Forces (軍人待遇條例), the Act of Insurance for Military Personnel (軍人保險條例) and the Veterans Assistance Act (國軍退除役官兵輔導條例), they said.
These amendments would aim to increase wages for conscripts, combat troops and those serving overtime, as well as fully subsidize military insurance premiums and provide educational subsidies for the children of officers, they said.
These proposals would not affect Taiwan’s ability to purchase foreign arms, Hsu said, adding that in total, it would constitute less than 30 percent of the 3 percent military expenditure target.
KMT deputy secretary-general Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said the Democratic Progressive Party is responsible for increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and increasing the chance of war, making it necessary to strengthen national defense.
Support for military personnel and improving national defense should not be a partisan issue, Wang said, adding that she hopes all parties would support these proposals after Legislative Yuan committee chairs are selected on Wednesday.
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