TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's state-owned railway operator announced plans on Wednesday (June 25) to increase night shift allowances by more than 30 percent and significantly boost supervisory bonuses. Taiwan Railway (台鐵公司) Chairman Cheng Kuang-yuan (鄭光遠) revealed the company would raise night shift compensation from NT$120 (about US$4.11) to NT$160 (approximately US$5.48) while enhancing supervisors' bonuses by 50 percent. The changes, targeting improved employee satisfaction, are expected to take effect before December.
The Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) has summoned key transportation officials to present a comprehensive report on the sector's future. Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱), Taiwan Railway Chairman Cheng, and Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR, 台灣高鐵公司) Chairman Shih Che (史哲) will brief legisaltors on personnel changes and business prospects. The special session will also examine strategic plans for the Tourism Administration (觀光署), addressing concerns about Taiwan's transportation infrastructure amid changing economic conditions.
During the announcement, Chairman Cheng emphasized that the current NT$120 (US$4.11) night allowance had remained unchanged for eight years and no longer reflected market realities. "The majority of our workforce — approximately 90 percent — maintains civil servant status, while only 10 percent are newer employees or transfers," Cheng explained. He committed to indexing future allowances to the consumer price index and pledged ongoing dialogue with labor representatives. The changes require formal approval from both the company's board and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部), Taiwan's transportation authority.
The compensation adjustments come just days after Taiwan Railway implemented its first fare increase in three decades. On Monday, the company raised ticket prices across its network, ending a remarkable 30-year period of stable fares despite rising operational costs. Chairman Cheng moved quickly to reassure the public that the newly announced employee benefits would not trigger additional fare increases, attempting to quell concerns about cascading price hikes affecting Taiwan's essential transportation infrastructure. ◼
