Minimum wage bill clears Legislative Yuan

2023-12-12

A proposed bill on Taiwan’s minimum wage has cleared its third reading at the Legislative Yuan. The bill stipulates that the minimum wage be adjusted in line with the consumer price index. The bill has been criticized by labor groups, who say it fails to clearly set a minimum threshold for basic wage increases. They say that as such, any wage hikes could be rendered null due to inflation. Let’s hear from some labor representatives.

Chu Mei-hsueh
Taoyuan City Industrial Association
What we want more is to make sure that wages are always higher than the previous year. We also want a higher pension contribution rate, from the current 6% to 12%.

Ho Cheng-chia
New Kaohsiung City Federation of Trade Unions
It’s the same old wine in a new bottle. There should be clear mechanisms, with concrete values and data points that decide how much the minimum wage should be adjusted by.

Starting next year, companies will face legal punishments for paying wages below the established minimums of NT$27,470 per month or NT$183 per hour. The bill also establishes that the wage review committee will convene in the third quarter of every year, with 21 representatives from labor groups, employers’ associations, government institutions and academia. In addition, companies that set wages below the minimum wage during negotiations with workers will face fines of up to NT$1.5 million and the names of violators will be made public.

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最低工資法三讀通過勞團不滿未明訂"調幅底線"

2023-12-12

最低工資法，耗時七年，終於在立法院三讀通過，新法明定，將消費者物價指數漲幅，納入參採指標。但勞工認為沒有明定最低工資的調幅底線，錢都被通膨給吃掉了。

[[桃園市產業總工會理事長朱梅雪]]
“我們更要求每一年的工資，一定要高於前一年的工資，新制退休金應該從6%提高到12%。”

[[新高市產業總工會理事長何政家]]
“換湯不換藥的一個模式。應該是要有一個明確的機制，比較具體的一個數值、數據，然後去決定基本工資應該調整多少。”

明年開始，最低工資不得低於27470元、時薪不低於183元，每年第3季召開審議會，由勞資政學四方，共21位代表出席，還規定勞雇雙方議定工資，不得低於最低工資，違者最高罰150萬，還會被公布姓名。

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Latest poll puts support for Lai at 35.1% followed by Hou with 32.5%

2023-12-12

Lai-Hsiao ticket releases third wave of campaign videos with election on the horizon

Lai Ching-te’s campaign office has released the third round of videos for the Lai-Hsiao ticket. The videos showcase Taiwan’s accomplishments in international trade, democracy and economic rankings, and reaffirm the DPP’s commitment to ensuring Taiwan remains a strong democracy that seeks to compete on the world stage.

The third round of campaign videos for the Lai-Hsiao ticket have been released, allowing viewers to see how Taiwan is drawing on international ideals as it forges ahead on its path towards being a strong democracy recognized on the global stage.

Tai Wei-shan
Lai Ching-te’s campaign spokesperson
It’s clear to see that during the height of the Ma Ying-jeou era Taiwan relied on China for 40% of its overall trade, but at this moment in time that’s been brought down to 34%. We’ve increased the amount of trade we do with the U.S. and other countries around the world. We truly have our sights set on the world stage. As of right now, our agricultural products trade with China has gone from 20% to 10%, and all of this is a result of the hard work we’ve put in during the last eight years.

With President Tsai Ing-wen in her seventh year as president, Lai Ching-te’s campaign office shared some numbers that show the world has noticed Taiwan. In an evaluation by the magazine The Economist, Taiwan’s democracy is ranked No. 1 in Asia. It’s also ranked No. 21 for biggest economy in the world and No. 18 in trade. The DPP says 2024 is a crucial juncture in whether Taiwan will either continue on its path towards the world or chummy up with China.

Pan Men-an
Lai Ching-te campaign office
Taiwan is on show for the world to see. We think it’s a shame that the opposition party is only thinking about how to make Taiwan a nation that’s a democracy in name only. We want to be a Taiwan that’s part of the world; we’ll be a country that competes with the world. So, in terms of how will we create a hale and hearty path forward, the 2024 election will determine how we forge that path.

The DPP is calling on the public to elect the right people in 2024, to take Taiwan down the right path so it continues its journey on the world stage.

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2023-12-12

ITRI lists out key strategic trends for Southern Taiwan at forum

The Industrial Technology Research Institute on Monday held a forum focusing on industrial development and strategy in Southern Taiwan. At the event, ITRI unveiled a regional strategic roadmap for 2024, taking into account trends in net-zero emissions, electric vehicles, green energy and marine-based industries. Officials urged industries in Southern Taiwan to be prepared for expansion driven by EVs and the marine industry.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute on Monday held a forum on Southern Taiwan’s industrial strategy. At the event, the institute unveiled its 2024 industrial strategy plan for Southern Taiwan. Trends such as the transition to net-zero carbon emissions, the shift to electric vehicles and green energy, and the market for ocean related industries and blue carbon were highlighted as potential drivers for growth. Experts advised industry players to be ready.

Jeff Lin
ITRI vice president
Trends point to a market for 14 million electric vehicles in 2030. As such Taiwan’s EV industry will bring about new development trends to Southern Taiwan. The question is how to utilize these industrial clusters in a way that generates more benefits. The answer is interdisciplinary innovation, implementing things such as compound materials, semiconductors and so on in electric vehicles. Developments in hydrogen vehicles could also provide opportunities for interdisciplinary innovation.

As an industry think tank, ITRI has deployed 700 engineering experts to four parks in Southern Taiwan. The policy aims to form a technological network that safeguards the competitiveness of Southern Taiwan’s industry. ITRI has also assumed the responsibility to coordinate collaboration between industry and academia in the south, in order to promote industrial development in the region.

Lee Tzong-ming
ITRI vice president
One of the aspects we’re focusing on in Southern Taiwan is responding to developments in net-zero sustainability. Net-zero sustainability has become a very important issue for us, and it poses a huge challenge for our industries. So we hope that these technologies and projects that ITRI has established in the field of net-zero sustainability can be applied to industries in Southern Taiwan.

With electric vehicles and marine-based industries as potential drivers for expansion, ITRI hopes technological developments will be able to nurture a future of economic growth for Southern Taiwan.

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2023-12-12

Tainan featured as one of 30 cities in the National Geographic’s ‘Cool List 2024’

The city of Tainan has featured as one of 30 cities in the National Geographic’s “Cool List 2024.” The article highlights 30 world cities that are especially “in vogue” right now and will be hot tourist destinations in 2024. Tainan is singled out for its rich history, famous street foods and spectacular Beehive Fireworks Festival. Tainan celebrates its 400th birthday next year, and officials are keen to encourage more tourists to discover this unique gem on the west coast.

The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival in Tainan marks the start of the Lantern Festival. Festivalgoers wear protective gear to walk safely through a storm of fireworks. The folk custom has been dubbed “unforgettable” by National Geographic magazine.

National Geographic reports that Tainan celebrates its 400th birthday in 2024, as the oldest city in Taiwan. The former capital of Taiwan wears its wealth of history more clearly on its sleeve than its successor Taipei.

Huang Wei-cheh
Tainan mayor
This is the only Taiwanese city that made the “Cool List.” They make a point of saying Tainan isn’t about steel buildings, but about rich historic beauty. 400 years old is quite young. Tainan is younger than Scotland’s Edinburgh at 900, or some French cities that are over 1,000 years old. But Tainan is so rich in culture and civilization, and has such a deep culture, that it’s attracted the attention of the editor of National Geographic, and many other travelers. That’s an honor for us.

Beloved actor Chen Shufang is a tourist ambassador for the city, and took viewers on this tour of some of Tainan’s delightful back alleys to learn about temple culture. Even supermodel Lin Chi-ling, a Tainan native, held her wedding at Tainan Art Museum.

With its forts and towering temples, Tainan is full of historical charm. Everywhere you look is a beauty spot.

Huang Wei-cheh
Tainan mayor
We will continue to ensure that this capital of culture, fine dining, religion and even brand-new technologies leaves a deep impression on people who come to Tainan, as well as foreign friends who have never visited, both online and in in-person visits, and to ensure the impression continues to improve. We will keep working hard on this.

A major highlight of Tainan life are street foods like these danzai noodles with prawns. This is “coffin bread:” a bread bowl is hollowed out and filled with a creamy chowder – another Tainan specialty.

Hong Kong traveler
People say “you have to get this,” “you have to get that,” at the night market. But our time is limited and we can’t try everything.

Singapore traveler
Singapore is more busy and bustling. But the local conditions and customs are better here, I think – people are kinder.

Tainan is the only Taiwanese city to feature in the “Cool List,” among world cities like New York. Locals hope it will help draw in more international tourists.

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2023-12-12

Japanese architect Toyo Ito to help design National Children’s Future Museum

One of the world’s most famous architects will help design the National Children’s Future Museum, which is to be Taiwan’s first-ever children’s cultural venue. Japanese architect Toyo Ito is considered to be a rock star in the field of architecture. He designed the National Taichung Theater and is a winner of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. His team will work in tandem with a local award-winning architectural firm, MAYU Architects, Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan and former Premier Su Tseng-chang said. Construction on the museum will begin in 2025. Our very own FTV reporter Stephany Yang gives us the scoop.

Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan and former Premier Su Tseng-chang listen intently as architects explain their conceptual designs. Renowned Taiwanese and Japanese architects have been selected to design Taiwan’s National Children’s Future Museum.

Cheng Wen-tsan
Vice premier
The project was finalized during the tenure of former Premier Su Tseng-chang, and now the contract has finally been completed. It will be jointly designed by MAYU Architects and Japan’s Toyo Ito & Associates. It will be a cultural landmark in the future and will become an international museum for children in the future. I believe this museum can stimulate intelligence, creativity, imagination, and scientific and cultural abilities.

Su Tseng-chang
Former premier
I approached the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan Design Research Institute, the Public Construction Commission, and many experts and scholars. I have discussed this project 17 times when I was premier.

The design is based on the concept of "A Children’s City Emerging in the Forest." In this model, dense woods surround the architectural design base. Each floor has a different theme.

Wei-ya Fang
Architect
Because there are large forests on both sides of the building. The first floor is semi-outdoor, connecting the woods on the north and south sides. The first floor is open to citizens and children 24 hours a day. Each floor has a different city.

Malone Chang
Architect
Every city is a castle. In addition to games, it also hopes to educate children on various social issues. There will be various workshops. Construction will begin at the end of 2025. It will take another five years to complete, a total of seven years.

The National Children’s Future Museum will focus on three main topics: themed adventure, learning and exploration, and leisure and play. It hopes to provide a venue for children to explore culture, art, and technology. The project base covers an area of approximately 3.3 hectares and will be located on Hansheng East Road in Banqiao District. Organizers hope that it will become a new cultural landmark.

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2023-12-12

China Medical University and Healthcare System showcases innovations

The China Medical University and its Healthcare System recently showcased some of its latest innovations and tech at this year’s Healthcare Expo Taiwan. The health institution has focused its efforts on fields such as smart healthcare, precision healthcare and public health. Many of the technologies on display harness some of the latest tech trends such as artificial intelligence, resulting in these advancements garnering much attention from all over the world.

The 2023 Healthcare Expo Taiwan recently took over Taipei. At the event China Medical University and its Healthcare System showcased its latest innovations.

Previously, doctors and nurses had to spend countless minutes organizing medical records. Now, thanks to generative AI and voice-recorded consulting, a medical report can be generated in a few seconds with just the press of a button.

Der-yang Cho
China Medical University Hospital superintendent
It can be used in such ways as doctors’ consults, lab reports and operating room records. What makes it very impressive is that it can process several languages mixed together, like Mandarin and English, and even Hakka and Taiwanese, and still maintain an accuracy rate of 94%. With it, a handover that would otherwise take one hour now takes just 15 minutes. So it can save time by 75%.

Every year in Taiwan, about 160,000 people are diagnosed with sepsis, which has a high mortality rate of 40%. An AI-powered technology can help increase a patient’s survival rate by 20%.

Der-yang Cho
China Medical University Hospital superintendent
Drawing blood to test for blood cultures usually takes about 72 hours. But with the AI system, we can detect any antibiotic-resistant bacteria within just one hour. That’s a significant difference that can reduce the mortality rate by at least 20%.

China Medical University and its Healthcare System has won numerous international medical awards for its innovations in five fields including AI smart healthcare, renewable healthcare and precision healthcare. The university and its hospital hopes to set a new milestone for Taiwan’s medical technology.

The hospital is a world leader for innovative R&D, with technology transfer systems that allow biotech startups to produce market-ready products. Some of the breakthroughs that have attracted significant attention include the development of a new mRNA CAR-T immunotherapy by Ever Supreme Bio Technology. There’s also the hospital’s mRNA electroporation technology, which was approved by the U.S. FDA in September. The medical center hopes to launch human clinical trials for the technology, a move that could revolutionize the treatment of difficult to treat cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer and, in the process, save lives.

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2023-12-12

Team Taiwan sweeps to glory at the 2023 WorldSkills Asia Competition

2023-12-12

Japan’s and Taiwan’s most famous high school marching bands perform in Taipei

The Orange Devils are back in Taiwan; this time they came to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Taipei First Girls High School. Everyone from young fans to alumnae of yesterday witnessed a back-to-back show, with the marching band of Taiwan’s most famous girls’ school also putting on a dazzling display of musical entertainment.

These young musicians are playing instruments as they march around, smoothly transitioning into different formations. But one thing remains constant: the bright smiles on their faces.

Boasting the nickname of the Orange Devils, the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band accepted an invitation to perform at the school anniversary of Taipei First Girls High School. Fans shared their excitement about seeing the Japanese band live.

Member of the public
I feel it’s really wonderful, to be able to see them perform in Taiwan.

The Orange Devils were invited to perform on National Day last year in October, and this time around they returned to Taiwan to perform during Taipei First Girls High School’s 120th anniversary. The Japanese band delivered a music-laden happy birthday message to Taiwan’s most famous girls’ school, but the Taipei high school’s own Marching Band, Honor Guard, and Color Guard didn’t just sit back idly to watch the show.

Showing off difficult tricks that involved rifles being spun around and tossed between different sets of hands, band members of Taipei First Girls High School didn’t shy away from a bit of friendly competition with the musicians from Japan. In addition to the talented young Taiwanese students of today, alumnae from yesteryear put on their old uniforms to soak in the atmosphere at their alma mater’s anniversary.

Taipei First Girls High School alumna
Every year on Dec.12 I come back here for the school anniversary.

Taipei First Girls High School alumna
The feeling is something like, “Wow! I’m so proud to be from Taipei First Girls High School, to have been part of its band.”

The principal of Taipei First Girls High School explained that the band is the best in Taiwan, and the same goes for the Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Band in Japan. So, he said, it’s only natural to have these two schools get to meet one another, offering audiences two performances that redefine the possibilities of what high school marching bands can do.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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2023-12-12

Massive fireworks displays to ring in 2024 across Taiwan

2023-12-12

Minimum wage bill clears Legislative Yuan