Disgruntled employees in Taiwan lament stagnant salaries

Dissatisfaction with salaries among employees in Taiwan has surged, with 90% expressing discontent, marking the highest level in five years.

The annual survey conducted by 1111 Jobs Bank found that 75% of respondents did not receive any salary increase in 2023. Among the quarter who did receive a raise, the average increment was NT$2,117 (US$66) per month.

The primary reason cited for stagnant wages in 2023, according to 61.8% of respondents, was the absence of a structured system within their respective organisations for regular salary increments. Conversely, 18.6% attributed it to their organisation’s financial performance, 16.9% cited non-approval by their superiors, 13.5% claimed personal animosity from their superiors, and 12.4% cited insufficient seniority as the root cause.

On average, respondents reported enduring a 3.7-year stretch without a pay raise, and 25.5% of respondents revealed they had not received a raise in the past five years.

READ MORE: Inflation drives down real earnings in Taiwan despite increase in wages 

Tseng Chung-wei, Public Relations Manager for 1111 Jobs Bank, explained that these findings correlate with Taiwan’s recent economic deceleration, which has prompted organisations to exercise caution when considering labour cost increases. Taiwan’s government, in response to the challenging economic climate, recently lowered its 2023 GDP growth forecast to 1.61%, marking an eight-year low.

This week, a Ministry of Labour committee will decide whether to recommend a minimum wage increase for 2024. Concurrently, the Cabinet has greenlit a 4% salary hike for public sector employees in 2024, a proposal still awaiting approval from the Legislature, reported Focus Taiwan.