TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) announced on Wednesday (Dec. 25) that the minimum wage will rise next year, benefiting an estimated 2.57 million workers as the hourly wage increases to NT$190, and the monthly salary to NT$28,590. Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) stated that this marks the ninth consecutive year of wage hikes since 2016, aiming to ensure workers' basic living standards.
Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛), director of the Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment, highlighted that over the past nine years, the hourly minimum wage has grown by 58.3%, while the monthly wage has increased by 42.9%. The primary beneficiaries are local workers. In addition, Chen Mei-nu (陳美女), director of the Department of Labor Insurance, noted that the wage increase would prompt adjustments in the labor insurance salary scale, with the first level rising from NT$27,470 to NT$28,590.
Hung also mentioned that the subsidy for the industry talent investment program (產業人才投資方案) will increase, allowing individuals a maximum of NT$100,000 for training expenses every three years, up from NT$70,000. Chen Shih-chang (陳世昌), a section head at the ministry’s Workforce Development Agency, said this is the first adjustment since the program began in 2012, with 111,900 participants attending 5,923 courses last year.
The ministry will add foreign language support to skills certification tests for seven new occupations, including Chinese and Western cuisine. Chen Shih-chang noted plans to issue guidelines next January to protect migrant workers' rights during pregnancy and child-rearing stages.
