Taiwan likely to set minimum wage on October 8
- Charles Chau
Due to the pandemic, the Minimum Wage Review Committee delayed its annual meeting from its usual date in August.
Representatives of businesses, unions, academia and the government will gather to discuss whether to raise the monthly minimum wage of NT$24,000 (US$864) and the hourly wage of NT$160 (US$5.76) starting next year.
Business organisations have argued against an across-the-board increase, while government ministers said it would be difficult to avoid a raise, given the hardships of the past year due to the fallout from COVID-19 outbreaks.
Last year’s minimum wage was raised by only NT$200 (US$7.20), with the MOL commenting that workers sacrificed their interests for the common good in 2020 and should therefore receive a more substantial raise this time around.
READ: Leader of business groups opposes raising minimum wage in Taiwan
Since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, the minimum wage has been increased five times. It rose from NT$20,008 (US$720.3) in 2016 to NT$24,000 (US$864) this year, with the increase from 2020 to 2021 being the smallest during her term, according to Taiwan News.
The minimum wage remained unchanged from 2015 to 2016 at NT$20,008 (US$720.3).
