The review of the minimum wage begins today. The three major labor groups, the National Federation of Industrial Unions, the Taipei City Federation of Industrial Unions, and the National Federation of Financial Industry Trade Unions, today called on all trade union organizations across the country to "stand up" (photo by reporter Li Lianghui)
[Reporter Li Jinghui/Taipei Report] The annual minimum wage review meeting will kick off today (24th). A review group composed of representatives from labor, capital, government, and academia will hold a closed-door meeting at the Ministry of Labor at 10 a.m. to discuss next year’s minimum wage increase. In order to actively strive for "sharing the fruits of economic growth," the three major labor groups, the National Federation of Industrial Unions, the Taipei City Federation of Industrial Unions, and the National Federation of Financial Industry Trade Unions, today called on all trade union organizations across the country to "stand up." They gathered outside the venue early in the morning and roared at the attitude of some employer groups who once again used the excuses of "hot outside and cold inside" and "traditional industry operations are difficult" to lower their profile.
According to the "Minimum Wage Law", the review group will draw up the adjustment range of next year's minimum wage based on the research report and adjustment recommendations put forward by the Minimum Wage Research Group, based on the annual growth rate of the consumer price index (CPI) and 10 "optional purchasing indicators". Although Labor Minister Hong Shenhan publicly stated yesterday that there is a "high chance" that the monthly minimum wage will exceed NT$30,000 and the hourly wage will exceed NT$200 next year. However, this year's monthly salary has reached NT$29,500 and the hourly wage is NT$196. Calculating only CPI and not including other indicators, next year's monthly salary will be enough to exceed NT$30,000 and the hourly wage will reach NT$200.
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Dai Guorong, chairman of the All-China Federation of Industrial Trade Unions, pointed out that this year, driven by AI and exports, Taiwan's annual economic growth rate (GDP) soared to 11.48%, a 39-year high. However, inflation and prices are still high, with the CPI estimated at 2.03%. This is the critical moment to break the curse of low wages and achieve "the 11th consecutive year of increases." However, some employer groups have used the excuses of "hot outside and cold inside" and "difficulty operating in traditional industries" to completely lower the rate, and are only willing to make a symbolic fine-tune "below 3%". He questioned why grassroots workers are excluded from economic prosperity when they sweat and work hard.
He even raised the minimum wage monthly by 3.18% this year. However, the growth rate of monthly living expenses per person in New Taipei City and Kaohsiung City from January to May this year has exceeded 5%, indicating that the 3.18% increase is not enough for residents in some areas to provide real life security. In addition, the CPI of important livelihood commodities such as eggs, pork, and rice should also be taken seriously. The impact of the increase on the purchasing power of marginal labor’s real wages, as well as the reality that the gap between rich and poor continues to widen, the Federation of Industry and Commerce insists that the minimum wage increase must reach 7.77%, so that the annual monthly salary will be increased to 31,792 yuan, and the hourly wage will be increased to 211 yuan. This will maintain the survival safety net for marginal workers.
Chung Fu-ji, chairman of the All-China Federation of Financial Industry Trade Unions, emphasized that the purpose of setting the minimum wage is to protect the basic living standards of about 2 million workers at the lowest level. The main reason why the wages of middle- and high-paid or senior employees cannot be adjusted accordingly is "the stinginess of employers" and "the weak strength of Taiwan's trade unions." In response to the employer's constant emphasis that "GDP is mainly contributed by high-tech industries," he asked, those who work odd hours at the grassroots level, such as students working in convenience stores, grassroots practitioners such as breakfast shops and rice ball stalls, receive the minimum wage, but provide indispensable services for the functioning of society. Aren't they the invisible promoters of GDP growth? Not the unsung hero of the economy?
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