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Taiwanese conscripts worry about salary gap despite raise
Taiwanese conscripts have expressed concerns that their monthly earnings still fall short of the country’s basic labor wage despite a recent salary increase. Privates, the lowest military rank, now receive a monthly salary of NT$26,307, including insurance and meal expenses. However, this amount is still lower than the standard basic labor wage of NT$27,470. Last year, President Tsai Ing-wen extended the mandatory conscription period to one year, and the wage adjustment for privates gained significant attention. Under the new system, privates can earn up to NT$20,320, consisting of a base wage of NT$10,130 and an additional NT$10,190 for specialized skills. In addition to their salary, they also receive military insurance (NT$1,240), national health insurance (NT$1,839), and a meal allowance (NT$908), bringing the total payment to NT$26,307. The first batch of 670 army conscripts for the one-year service started their eight-week entry training on January 25. Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an encouraged the privates to form sincere friendships, develop disciplined habits, and cultivate a sense of responsibility during their military life.2024/01/25 15:11 -
ONE to impose US$1,000 surcharge amid Red Sea tensions
Taiwan’s shipping market is abuzz with news that Japan’s Ocean Network Express (ONE) plans to impose an emergency surcharge of US$1,000 per container due to escalating tensions in the Red Sea. This, along with a US$1,000 increase in base freight rates, could raise the total cost of shipping a large container to US$4,000. However, this figure is still below the $6,000 being quoted in the Chinese market. Freight charges from Taiwan to Europe have been steadily increasing, with rates climbing from US$900 to US$1,000 per large container at the end of November to US$2,000 by mid-December. Shipping companies are planning another rate hike, intending to raise rates to $3,000 starting from Jan. 1, 2024. The Chinese logistics platform, www.5688.cn, reported that shipping container rates from the Far East to Israel have skyrocketed to US$6,000, a sixfold increase from the end of November.2023/12/20 17:11 -
Strategic voting could tie Hou-Kong with Lai-Hsiao: poll
According to a recent poll, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) "Lai-Hsiao ticket" has a support rate of 32.7%, placing them ahead in the presidential race. The Kuomintang’s (KMT) "Hou-Kong ticket" closely trails behind with 29% support. If strategic voting occurs, the Taiwan People’s Party’s (TPP) "Ko-Ying ticket" could lose 7.3% of their current support, potentially resulting in a tie between Hou-Kong and Lai-Xiao at 32.7%. Compared to the previous poll in November, the Lai-Xiao ticket has gained 4.4% support, while the Hou-Kong duo has seen a modest increase of 0.8%. Conversely, support for the Ko-Ying pair has decreased by 4.6%. The survey, conducted through landline and mobile phone interviews on December 13 and 14, involved 1,088 Taiwanese citizens aged 20 and above.2023/12/16 14:29