Premier Sean Chen announced yesterday(Sept.26)that the basic hourly pay will be raised to NT$109,up from NT$103 now,effective Jan.1,next year.Meanwhile,the basic monthly pay will be enhanced to NT$19,047,on the premise that GDP growth exceeds 3%for two consecutive quarters or unemployment rate drops below 4%for two months in a row.
According to the standard,the adjustment of basic monthly pay will hinge on GDP performance,since the unemployment rate has climbed over 4%after the eruption of the global financial tsunami in 2008 and is unlikely to meet the aforementioned condition in the foreseeable future.The Directorate General of Budget,Accounting,and Statistics(DGBAS)predicted that Taiwan's GDP growth rates will hit 4.23%,4.79%,and 4.09%,respectively,in the fourth quarter this year through the second quarter next year.
Chen noted that export will score positive growth in September and the economy is expected to pick up in the fourth quarter this year and the first quarter next year,when GDP growth rate may top 3%,paving the way for the adjustment of basic monthly pay.In other word,basic monthly pay may be adjusted in the second quarter next year.
Chen stressed that he felt sorry for his decision and refuted the criticism that the government mistreats laborers,adding that the governmenta??s policy must take into account various factors.Chen noted that since 2008,the accumulated hike of basic wage has reached 8.7%,higher than the increase of the average wages of the manufacturing industry,the industry,and the service industry,as well as the consumer price index.
The Premier asked the Council of Labor Affairs(CLA)to review four items,including the need for the annual meeting of the basic wage screening committee,makeup of committee members,screening mechanism,and approval procedure,in order to institutionalize the screening of basic wages.
Following the settlement of the basic-wage adjustment program,Wang Ju-hsuan,minister of the CLA,tendered resignation yesterday,to take responsibility for the outcome.
Wang said that equality,human nature,safety,and dignity is her policy vision as the minister of the CLA.She expressed that in the pursuit of economic growth,the human right of laborers must be upheld.Therefore,she has pursued the enhancement of basic wage and insisted on the maintenance of similar basic wage for both local and foreign laborers.
