TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A recent report released by the Ministry of Labor revealed that over 153,288 workers in Taiwan earn less than NT$30,000 a month, highlighting the struggle of low-wage workers amid rising prices.
The report shows that the lowest wages are found in four major industries: laundry and ironing services, amusement park attendants, cleaning and housekeeping staff, and waste collection and sorting workers.
Wage Disparity in the Workforce
The survey, conducted in July 2023, found that airline pilots earn the highest average monthly salary at NT$315,000. This is starkly contrasting with basic technical and labor workers, who make up 5.4% of the labor market and earn an average of just NT$32,000 a month. This figure is less than one-tenth of what airline pilots earn.
Laundry and ironing workers receive the lowest average monthly wage at NT$29,255, followed closely by waste collection and sorting workers at NT$29,615.
The Plight of Low-Income Workers
Additionally, the annual salaries for the lowest-paid jobs, such as waste collection and sorting workers, amusement and recreation attendants, and parking lot attendants, do not exceed NT$370,000, with nearly 29,000 people in these roles.
This stark wage disparity underscores the challenges Taiwan's lowest-paid workers face, particularly as they navigate the pressures of an increasingly expensive cost of living. The Ministry of Labor's findings serve as a crucial indicator of the economic realities for a significant portion of the workforce, prompting discussions on the need for wage adjustments and improved labor conditions.
