Public school educators and military personnel will see a 3% salary increase by next year, according to Cabinet President Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) at a review committee meeting on Monday. Cho said that he hopes the government's leadership will encourage companies to also raise employee salaries, sharing the fruits of economic growth.
Cho also linked salaries to the issue of Taiwan’s low childbirth rate, to which Minister Without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) responded that NT$30,000 (approximately US$900) will be provided for every child born until kindergarten. Chen estimates that the budget will be around NT$50 billion (over US$1.5 billion) per year to fund the new policy. Cho pointed out that the current policy will also increase the need for daycare and special classes, especially during winter and summer vacations. He said that though specific budget numbers will not be available immediately, Chen has taken on the detailing and calculations for this project.