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Taiwan to raise salaries for military and public workers
Discover how Taiwan plans to boost salaries for military, public, and teaching personnel in 2023, following stable economic growth. Premier Cho Jung-tai emphasizes sharing economic achievements.2024/07/04 13:35 -
Survey: near 60% in Taiwan expect 1-3 months’ year-end bonus
A new survey conducted by Cathay Financial Holding reveals that 59.3% of respondents expect their year-end bonuses for 2023 to be between one to three months’ worth of salary. Additionally, 45.9% of those polled anticipate a salary increase in 2024, with 9.2% expecting the raise to exceed 3%. However, only 8.3% foresee year-end bonuses topping three months’ salary, while 32.4% predict bonuses will fall below one month. In terms of regular monthly earnings in 2024, 47.6% of participants project stability. The survey also indicates that the average growth expectation for Taiwan’s economy in 2024 stands at 2.52%, with 70% of those surveyed predicting a growth rate above 2%. Respondents expect the inflation rate in 2024 to be 2.21%, with 55% believing it will remain above 2%. These figures differ from the projections by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, which forecasts a 3.35% growth rate and a 1.64% inflation rate for Taiwan in 2024. In December, the optimism index for Taiwan’s stock market rose sharply to 16.1 from -0.4 in November, and the risk appetite index increased from 10.3 to 13.9, indicating market anticipation of potential rate cuts by major central banks next year. The survey, conducted from Dec. 1 to 7, gathered 13,379 valid questionnaires via email from members of Cathay Life Insurance’s official website and customers of Cathay United Bank.2023/12/20 20:00 -
Taiwan Central Bank holds interest rate steady for 3rd time
Taiwan’s central bank has announced that it will maintain its interest rate for the third consecutive time in its quarterly board meeting. The decision was influenced by price changes and the need to balance stabilizing consumer prices with sustaining economic growth. Despite rising consumer prices due to natural disasters, the central bank remains optimistic and expects the inflation rate to drop below 2% next year. Forecasts for Taiwan’s GDP growth rate in 2023 are more positive, projected to reach 3.12%. This is supported by increasing private consumption, particularly in tourism and dining, as well as the central bank’s expectation of a global export increase to stimulate local investment and drive economic recovery. In contrast to the Federal Reserve in the U.S., Taiwan’s central bank stated that its monetary policy approach would be adjusted gradually based on the country’s economic conditions. Despite high housing prices, the central bank has decided against imposing stricter measures or withdrawing from market intervention to avoid further impact on the property market.2023/12/15 16:31 -
Taiwan’s 2023 exports on track to hit US$400B milestone
Taiwan’s Finance Minister, Chuang Tsui-yun, projects that Taiwan’s total export value for this year will exceed US$400 billion, marking the third-highest record in Taiwan’s history. The nation’s exports for the first ten months of the year have already reached US$355.1 billion. Despite a slight decline in October, Taiwan’s export sector has shown signs of resilience, with positive growth in September. Chuang advises industry leaders and government departments to closely monitor global economic factors, such as inflation and the interest rate hike cycle, which may impact exports. Cautious optimism is emphasized for exports in the fourth quarter and beyond.2023/12/04 14:03 -
Taiwan cuts 2023 GDP growth to 1.42%, lowest in 14 years
Taiwan’s 2023 GDP growth forecast has been lowered to 1.42%, the lowest in 14 years, due to weaker exports and private investment. Year-end bonuses for Taiwanese workers have also been affected, with the average amount shrinking to 1.08 months’ worth of salary, hitting a 10-year low. The financial industry leads in bonus payouts with an average of 1.83 months’ salary, followed by the semiconductor industry at 1.38 months. The healthcare services industry averages just 0.97 months of salary, while the accommodations and food services sector lags further behind at only 0.59 months. Despite the downward revision, the DGBAS remains optimistic for 2024, forecasting a GDP growth rate rebound to 3.35%. However, challenges such as the Ukraine-Russia war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and ongoing inflation may pose risks to the global economy. Looking ahead to 2024, local job banks predict pay increases in 47.5% of companies, with an average salary hike of 3.2%, slightly lower than in 2023. Experts caution that Taiwan’s economic recovery may not be as swift as hoped.2023/11/29 16:04 -
Taiwan’s industrial production drops 6.72% YOY in September
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs reported that the Industrial Production Index for September 2023 decreased by 6.72% compared to the same month in the previous year. The manufacturing industry experienced a decline rate of 7.01%, marking 16 consecutive months of negative growth.2023/10/24 11:53