We reported yesterday that the Council of Labor Affairs has vowed to push for a minimum wage hike later this year by at least 3%, which translates into around 536 NT dollars, a meager sum that many labor groups find meaningless.

It is confirmed that military, governmental, and educational personnel will all receive a 3% wage increase.

Standard labor wages will also soon follow suit.

The chair of the Council of Labor Affairs, Wang Ru-xuan recently stated her commitment in front of the Legislative Yuan to execute the plan this year and to ensure that the percentage increase will be higher than the 3% for military, governmental, and educational personnel.

According to calculations, the 3% increase will result in a 536NT dollar increase for some salary workers and officially pass the 18 thousand mark.

However, the salary increase plan will have to wait until the third season of standard labor wages conference for a final decision.

Certain labor advocacy groups say that with the national salary increase for government employees this time, every worker on average receives a salary increase of 2230 NT dollars.

They reason that as a result, the standard labor wage should by the same token, increase to 22,110 NT dollars.

In response to calls for standard labor workers to be separated from foreign labor workers, Wang disagreed, saying that such a move would reflect badly on Taiwan's human rights record.

She also noted that the move would give the international community the impression that Taiwan condones sweatshop factories, causing foreign manufacturers to be reluctant in placing orders in Taiwan.

Finally, she said that factories and labor workers would be negatively affected by the suggestion.