Taipei:Hundreds of workers gathered outside the Presidential Office on Monday, rallying for higher wages, increased employer pension contributions, and clearer profit-sharing rules. The protest is part of a wave of strikes and strike authorization votes across Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, participants from various labor unions marched on Ketagalan Boulevard, passing the Legislative Yuan before returning to their starting point. Ho Cheng-chia, chairman of the Taiwan Solidarity Front Confederation of Trade Unions, criticized the current labor pension system, which was introduced in 2005. This system mandates employers to contribute at least 6 percent of an employee's salary monthly to a retirement account. Ho proposed increasing this minimum to 9 percent, eventually reaching 15 percent, to address inadequate retirement savings.
The pension system, along with the "old-age benefits" under the labor insurance system, is managed by the Bureau of Labor Insurance. The labor insurance system has a salary cap that limits retirement benefits to under US$900 monthly. Ho also called for amendments to the Labor Standards Act to ensure profits are shared with workers across various sectors.
The rally followed recent strikes and strike authorization votes, including at Chunghwa Telecom, where union members are demanding higher pay amid record company profits. The union, representing nearly all of Chunghwa Telecom's 20,000 employees, has passed strike authorization votes in several branches. Union Chairman Teng Ke-lien emphasized that while striking is not the goal, it's a necessary means to achieve their demands.
Taoyuan Confederation of Trade Unions Chairwoman Shih Shu-hua called for a nationwide general strike if pension reforms remain stalled before the 2028 elections. The Ministry of Labor expressed openness to raising employer pension contributions but stressed the need for careful evaluation. The ministry also mentioned incentives for companies to voluntarily increase contributions and urged employers to consider salary raises as the minimum wage rises over the next few years.