Legislators Push for Legalized Pay Raises for Civil Servants, Teachers, and Military; Review Scheduled for Next Week

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 4) Kuomintang legislators Weng Hsiao-ling, Hsu Yu-chen, and Lo Chih-chiang held a press conference today with several civil servant and teacher groups, advocating for the institutionalization of salary adjustments for military, civil service, and public education personnel. Weng stated that she has proposed a "Draft Act on the Adjustment of Treatment for Military, Civil Service, and Public Education Personnel" to link their pay raises to economic development and inflation, and announced that a case review will be scheduled for next week.

Weng, Hsu, and Lo held the press conference with groups including the Republic of China United General Association of Public Service, Military, Police, and Firefighters, the Republic of China National Civil Service Association, and the National Education Industry General Labor Union. They pointed out that salary adjustments for these groups have long lacked a reasonable mechanism and called for the establishment of an institutionalized, legalized, and transparent adjustment mechanism.

Weng argued that over the past decade, Taiwan's per capita GDP has nearly doubled from US$22,000 to over US$40,000, and Taiwan's per capita income has surpassed that of Japan and South Korea. However, the per capita income of military, civil service, and education personnel remains far lower than in Japan and South Korea. She also noted that recent inflation has reached 15% to 17%, but the salary increases for these groups have not kept pace.

Weng stated that her draft bill advocates for "clear salary indicators" and "transparent decision-making," linking pay adjustments to national economic development and inflation. Under the proposal, a salary review must be triggered when the cumulative growth rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reaches 3%, or a regular review must be conducted at least every four years. The adjustment rate must not be less than half of the inflation rate.

Weng emphasized that decision-making must be transparent. She proposed that the future review committee should include 9 official representatives, 9 representatives of current military, civil service, and education personnel, and 5 experts and scholars, to avoid closed-door negotiations. She also stated that when the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics announces a cumulative CPI growth rate of 3%, the Executive Yuan must convene a review committee meeting within three months. As the convenor of the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee, Weng said she will schedule a case review for next week.

Hsu Yu-chen pointed out that from 2016 to 2026, per capita income grew by 93.2%, and government tax revenues hit a record high. However, the cumulative salary adjustment for military, civil service, and education personnel was only 14.7%, lagging behind the price increase of 21.92% and the minimum wage growth of 47.4%. She criticized that while the country is getting richer, the real income of these personnel, who support the normal functioning of the state, continues to shrink.

Lo Chih-chiang stated that the government promised in 2024 to promote legalization, but over two years have passed with no action, calling the promises void. He asked if the government is determined to be a bad employer. He urged the government to immediately propose an Executive Yuan version of the bill and include grassroots representatives of military, civil service, and education personnel, questioning the representativeness of salary reviews without their participation. He called for an immediate review of the long-standing low pay issue.

Lin Shui-chi, President of the Republic of China United General Association of Public Service, Military, Police, and Firefighters, who attended the press conference, said that young people's reluctance to enter the public service system indicates a major national crisis. He expressed hope that the Examination Yuan and the Ministry of Civil Service would defend the dignity and rights of these personnel. (Editor: Su Zongzhi, Zhai Sijia) 1150604