Raise 結果共54筆

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je reveals that the Kuomintang (KMT) demanded he raise NT＄2 billion to NT＄10 billion in campaign funds to be an official candidate. In an interview, Ko discusses the financial challenges faced during the coalition talks with the KMT. The collapse of the talks left the TPP short of their target, with estimated expenses of just over NT＄200 million. Ko criticizes Taiwan’s high election expenses, warning of potential issues of political influence and campaign finance.

Recent bed bug sightings in a Taipei hotel raise concerns in Taiwan. The Ministry of Environment advises on prevention methods and stresses the importance of public education and government initiatives to tackle the resurgence.

This news story from Taipei covers the concerning rise in child abuse cases in Taiwan, as reported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Child Welfare League. It explores public attitudes and the prevalence of child discipline in public spaces, highlighting the need for increased awareness and proper parenting education.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) clarified that school teacher bonuses are not part of salary raises, in response to the National Federation of Teachers Unions (NFTU) advocating for improved benefits for elementary and secondary school teachers. The MOE stated that homeroom teacher bonuses reached NT$3,000 before 2017, while the hourly wage for substitute teachers has increased. However, the bonuses for special education teachers still require approval from the Executive Yuan. The NFTU held a press conference to propose better conditions for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school teachers, highlighting the government’s focus on universities and neglecting the needs of these teachers. With 250,000 out of the total 300,000 teachers in Taiwan working in elementary and secondary schools, the NFTU emphasized the significant remuneration gap, unadjusted overall salaries, and the lack of increase in special education teacher bonuses that need consideration. The NFTU chairman, Hou Chun-liang, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, as homeroom teacher and special education teacher bonuses have remained unchanged for 10 and 31 years, respectively. The NFTU’s publicity director, Luo Te-shui, urged that anything beneficial to education should not be delayed until the elections.

According to a national economic confidence survey by Cathay Financial Holding, approximately half of respondents believe their salaries will increase in 2024, showing a more optimistic outlook compared to last year. About 25% of respondents anticipate a pay hike of more than 3%. This comes after the Ministry of Labor’s decision to raise the minimum wage by just over 4% in 2024. 64% of respondents reported that their income has remained unchanged over the past six months, while 18.1% said it has increased and 17.9% said it has decreased. Looking ahead to next year, 25.2% of respondents expect a salary increase of more than 3%, a significant increase from last year’s survey. The survey also reveals that respondents predict the country’s economic growth rate to stay at 1.6%, with only around 21% believing it will surpass 2% this year. In terms of inflation expectations, the median value remains steady at 2.5%, with 84% of respondents believing this year’s inflation rate will be more than 2%. Overall, the public maintains a conservative outlook on economic expansion, while inflation expectations remain higher.

Explore Taiwan’s latest efforts to combat traffic accidents with pedestrian refuge islands. Despite their safety intent, these measures have sparked a debate between enhancing safety and increasing convenience, reflecting Taiwan’s ongoing struggle to improve road safety.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) minister has stated that multiple channels have been used to raise awareness of the ＂Online Registration System for Taiwanese Citizens Visiting Mainland China.＂ The system was implemented in January 2023 to improve emergency assistance services for travelers. However, out of over one million Taiwanese nationals who visited China from January to September, only around 2,000 registered with the system, resulting in a usage rate of just 0.19%. MAC Minister Chiu Tai-san acknowledged the low uptake and stated that efforts have been made to promote the system, including engaging travel agencies. Legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung highlighted that in August alone, over 200,000 people traveled from Taiwan to China, but only 554 registrations were made. Minister Chiu explained that registration is voluntary, and if citizens do not anticipate encountering problems in mainland China, it is challenging for the ministry to enforce it. In response to calls for increased promotion, Chiu promised that MAC colleagues would intensify efforts to raise awareness about the registration system.

The Taiwanese government plans to allocate at least NT＄20 billion next year to raise the salaries of healthcare workers in response to recent protests by medical professionals. Premier Chen Chien-jen advocates for increased respect, appreciation, and compensation for frontline staff, stating that a health insurance system should not be built on the ＂sweat and tears＂ of healthcare professionals. Discussions are underway with President Tsai Ing-wen, National Health Insurance Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang, and Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan on methods to enhance salaries through health insurance and public budget funds. The financial assistance will be directed at healthcare personnel excluding doctors, with specific details of the plan still under discussion. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has highlighted the global shortage of healthcare workers as a significant concern, and with COVID-19 still a threat, the government aims to increase healthcare investment and address the welfare of those on the medical frontline.

The Thai government has launched a 30-day visa-free policy for Taiwanese tourists, aiming to increase the number of visitors by 20%. Around 600,000 Taiwanese tourists visited Thailand this year, and Thai officials hope to raise this number to at least 725,000 by the end of 2023. Since the announcement of the new policy, queries about Thailand on travel websites have increased by 30%. Travelers are also pleased with the elimination of visa costs, which can range from NT $1,200 to over $10,000. To further attract tourists, travel agencies and airlines are offering discounted round-trip tickets to Bangkok from Taipei, with prices as low as NT $5,000. Thailand is already among the top overseas travel destinations for Taiwanese, along with Japan, mainland China, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that 26 state-run hospitals will increase salaries by 4% starting in January 2024, with a maximum increase of NT$2,500 per month. Over 8,000 individuals will benefit from this raise, resulting in an annual expenditure increase of at least NT$140 million. This follows incremental raises in nursing bonuses or allowances at 21 state-run hospitals between March and November 2023, ranging from NT$800 to NT$3,000 per month. However, five state-run hospitals in remote areas, islands, or specialized psychiatric hospitals were not included in the adjustments. The increased expenditure will be covered by hospital funds, but it may impact doctor bonuses. The ministry is urging hospitals to implement management strategies to minimize the effects on doctors.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) plans to raise the pay of nurses working in hospitals subordinate to the MOHW in response to a mass exodus of top nursing talents due to low-wage disputes. MOHW Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan convened a meeting to discuss a collective pay raise for 12,000 nurses working under affiliate hospitals. The low wages have led to a shortage of talent and disrupted services. By offering higher wages, hospitals hope to attract skilled nurses, expand bed capacity, and increase revenue. Taiwan has approximately 120,000 nurses, with one-tenth working in MOHW-affiliated hospitals, many of which are located in remote areas. The unequal distribution of work between private hospitals and MOHW-affiliated hospitals has been criticized, particularly in providing healthcare in rural areas.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan will increase monthly academic research grants for professors, associate professors, and assistant professors at public universities starting next year. This move aims to address low wages for academic talent in Taiwan. The Executive Yuan has committed to investing NT＄33.29 billion over the next five years to support this initiative. The research grants for teaching staff at public universities will increase by NT＄6,000 to NT＄9,000 per month. Additionally, the Ministry will invest an additional NT＄860 million to encourage private universities to raise their faculty salaries, bridging the salary gap between public and private institutions. The efforts also include the introduction of new doctoral scholarships and subsidies for part-time teaching assistant positions for doctorate students. The MOE’s Department of Higher Education Director-General, Chu Chun-chang, stated that if private universities can increase academic research funding by 15%, the MOE will cover 70% of the cost. Furthermore, starting next year, the ＂flexible pay＂ system for outstanding teachers will be expanded, with increased subsidies.

Discover how the high speed rail’s growing dominance in Taiwan’s transportation system is causing imbalances, impacting traditional railway and intercity buses. Experts raise concerns about sustainability.

The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee president has announced an increase in cash prizes for winners at the Paris Olympics next year. Bronze medalists will now receive NT＄1,000,000, silver medalists NT＄2,000,000, and gold medalists NT＄5,000,000. The announcement was made during a celebratory banquet held by the Hungtao Sports Development Foundation to honor Taiwanese athletes’ outstanding performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital in Taipei will raise salaries for nursing staff starting in November. Salaries for nurses on the three-shift rotation will increase by NT$1,680, and the monthly salary for new nurses will be raised to NT$43,680. The salary increase is in response to concerns over nurse departures and a shortage of staff, which has led to a reduction in the number of beds in many hospitals. The Taiwan Union of Nurses Association (TUNA) reported a drop in the number of nurses in the country from 187,519 to 185,901 from January through May. As a result, larger hospitals have been forced to close an average of 8% to 10% of beds. Shin Kong Hospital has hired 74 nurses but lost 125 as of September, leading to a decrease in the number of available beds. In addition to the salary increase, the hospital is implementing other incentives such as retention bonuses, team performance bonuses, special allowances, signing bonuses for new hires, and up to four years of free accommodation. The hospital also plans to increase all staff salaries next year in line with a government wage adjustment policy to attract and retain talent.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) plans to increase the monthly food allowance for Republic of China Armed Forces personnel. The goal is to set a minimum of NT＄3,388 by 2025, with higher allowances for those serving in high-cost regions like Nansha Taiping Island. The adjustment will require an additional NT＄1.3 billion annually and will take effect in 2025.

Taiwan’s state-owned Taipower has reported a loss of NT＄130 billion for the first half of 2023, despite the recent government decision to raise electricity prices for industrial users. The cumulative losses over two years are projected to exceed NT＄460 billion by the end of the year.

Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), aims to create 20,000 new startup jobs within five years and raise startup investment to NT＄150 billion annually. He plans to make Taiwan a net exporter of innovative solutions in a decade.

The Ministry of Labor has resolved in a meeting on Friday to raise the minimum monthly wage in 2024 to NT＄27,470, and the hourly wage will increase by NT＄7 to NT＄183.

The birth rate in Taiwan has significantly decreased in recent years, resulting in negative population growth for a consecutive three-year period. A recent study has shed light on three main challenges office workers face when raising children: high living costs, stagnant wages, and an overpriced housing market.

A restaurant in Taipei City recently gained significant attention for its delectable ramen infused with gargantuan marine isopods. 

Popular Taiwan eatery Formosa Chang announced that it will raise its prices starting on Wednesday (Feb. 1).  

The presidents of Taiwanese universities face a new challenge despite their impressive resumes: they must demonstrate their ability to secure donations. 

A well-known convenience store chain has announced it will be increasing its tea egg price from NT＄10 to NT＄13 on Dec. 28 in an effort to combat the rising prices of chicken feed.

For many office workers in Taiwan, it’s getting more and more expensive to get take-outs as the daily cost of their lunches often falls between NT＄200 and NT＄300.