TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday (Oct. 18) urged a swift reconvening of the Economic Development Commission (經濟發展委員會) second meeting next week to address Taiwan's pressing low-wage issue. He emphasized the need for actionable strategies to increase wages, moving beyond mere discussions.
Cho's remarks came a day after Labor Minister Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) stated that approximately 1.2 million workers in Taiwan earn less than NT$31,000 monthly, setting the amount as the low-wage standard. Ho referred to the definition from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), stating wages below two-thirds of the median are considered low.
Cho acknowledged the lively debate during the recent meeting, noting divergent views on how to calculate median wages using regular wages, salaries, or total wages. He stated that there are differing narratives on this calculation internationally, and the discussion yesterday did not reach a consensus or conclusion.
Cho stressed that the Ministry of Labor's (MOL, 勞動部) past research methods should not be the focus. Instead, he called for the commission to concentrate on future wage-raising strategies. He asserted that the point is not about the past but about how to find ways to increase wages in the future within the committee, rather than just discussing methods.