Taiwan approves monthly minimum wage increase, Filipino factory workers to benefit

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 14) — Over 124,000 Filipino factory workers in Taiwan will benefit from an increase in monthly minimum wages that will take effect in 2024.

"The Taiwan government has approved a 4.05 percent increase in the monthly minimum wage for workers in the industrial sector that will also benefit migrants, including overseas Filipino workers," said a statement from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Thursday.

MECO chairman Silvestre Bello III said the wage adjustment was approved on Sept. 13 and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

According to the statement, the wage increase will cover the 124,265 Filipino factory workers in Taiwan. However, it will not apply to live-in migrant caregivers and household service workers who are not covered by the Taiwan Labor Standards Act.

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The statement added that from NT$26,400 (around ₱46,949.58), the monthly minimum pay will be increased to NT$27,470 (around ₱48,852.46) starting next year, while the basic hourly rate is raised from NT$176 (around ₱313) to NT$183 (around ₱325.45).

There are about 1.79 million salaried employees and 600,000 hourly workers in Taiwan, including migrants. Around 154,000 Filipinos are staying in Taiwan.

Bello added that Filipinos who will be hired in Taiwan until Dec. 31, 2023 this year will also be covered by the new wage rates.