TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - The government would like to see an increase in the current minimum wage to a level equivalent to 40 pct of the average pay actually earned by local workers, the United Evening News reported, citing the island's top labor official.

Lee Ying-yuan, minister of the Council of Labor Affairs, was quoted as telling parliament that the current monthly minimum wage of 15,840 twd accounts for just 35.9 pct of the average in question, down from 41.1 pct in 1997.

The report said that given average pay actually earned by local workers per month now stands at 44,107 twd, the government is looking at an increase of about 11 pct in the minimum wage to 17,642 twd.

(1 usd = 33.10 twd)

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March 21, 2007