Construction wages rise amid labor crunch

Construction wages rise amid labor crunch

2024-06-11

The construction industry is facing a record labor shortage due to booming demand for public works. Industry insiders say that despite offering higher wages, it’s still hard to attract workers.

Hsiao Chieh-kai
Construction company manager
Wages for unskilled labor used to be NT$1,500 a day, but it’s gone up to nearly NT$2,500. Technical jobs, like formwork and rebar handling, used to start at NT$2,500 a day, but it’s now gone up to NT$3,500.

Tseng Ching-der
Real estate analyst
The prices of raw materials have stabilized, but wages have gotten quite a bit higher. This is mainly due to recent factory projects, a new construction spree for residential buildings, and the development of certain public works. There’s extremely strong demand for construction crews. There’s more demand than supply.

According to the government, construction costs went up 2.39% year-over-year in May. The cost of materials rose by just 1.19%, but labor costs surged by 3.82%. But despite the strong increase in wages, the industry continues to grapple with a labor shortage.

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"技術工"日薪破3千找嘸人! 營建工資漲幅超車材料

2024-06-11

根據勞動部的統計，受惠於公共工程建設需求旺盛所致，營建工程業人力需求屢創歷年同期新高。但隨之而來的，就是缺工的問題，業者表示，即便抬高工資，也很難找人。

[[建設公司專業經理人蕭傑楷]]
“像粗工來說他原本是從1500元，漲到目前是接近2500每天，那技術工種，像模板鋼筋的話，是從原本的2500上漲到3500元”

[[不動產企研室專案經理曾敬德]]
“原物料價格已經平穩了，但是工資的這部分的漲勢，還是比較明顯，那主要就是因為現在的一些廠房興建，然後住宅又進入大量開發期，然後公共工程的一些建設等等，工班的一個需求，等於是很強勁，有點供不應求”

主計總處的數字顯示，營造工程總指數原本已趨於穩定，不過今年5月年增率又攀高到2.39%，其中營造及工程材料類各漲1.6%及1.19%，勞務類年增達3.82%。只是，即便工資漲幅已經比材料成本的漲幅還要高了，工地缺工問題還是難解。

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The fight continues against the legislature’s attempt to expand its powers. Activists have launched Phase 2 of their campaign, which aims to put public pressure on blue-camp lawmakers. From Tuesday to Sunday, they’ll visit the constituencies of opposition lawmakers, to make their case directly to the public.

Launched by civic groups, the Bluebird Movement protests the legislature’s attempt to expand its powers. The movement went to New York last week, with Taiwanese expats renting an LED display in Times Square to promote their cause. The movement appeared in France on Monday, as expats rented a boat to sail down the Seine River. On Tuesday, activists announced that they’re pressing on with their domestic campaign.

Over the past two weeks, civic groups have recruited about a thousand volunteers for the movement’s second phase. Before the legislature votes on a government veto motion, activists will visit the KMT’s constituencies, to make their case directly to the voters.

Lo Yi
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We will put pressure on the blue camp’s lawmakers, in hopes of changing their vote on the government veto. We’ve recruited nearly a thousand volunteers. We plan to hold dialogues at the local level from June 11 to 16.

Hsiao Jen-yu
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The constituencies of the 41 blue-camp lawmakers have the right to monitor their representative’s words, deeds, votes and proposals, to stop the KMT from passing legislation that rolls back the clock on democracy.

The civic groups’ next stops will be New Taipei’s Banqiao and Tamsui, as well as Keelung. Starting from Northern Taiwan, they will rally support against the legislature’s abuse of power, and urge the public to defend democracy.

Hsu Kuan-tze
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The Bluebird Movement is nonpartisan, and it does not belong to any political figure. We oppose the hypocritical Fu Kun-chi and the doubled-faced Huang Kuo-chang.

Lai Chung-chiang
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We’re calling on all of the nation’s political parties to join the people in defending Taiwan’s democracy.

Following their 100,000-strong demonstration outside parliament, the activists are continuing to advance their cause, to make the opposition hear the true voice of the people.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Taiwan’s men getting shorter, survey reports

Are Taiwan’s men getting shorter? According to data from the Health Promotion Administration, that’s a yes. The average height of 18-year-old men is in decline, dropping 1.2 centimeters over the past decade. But over the same period, the average height of 18-year-old women went up by 0.5 centimeters. Doctors say the trend could be linked to dietary and lifestyle habits.

According to a new survey on 18-year-olds, men are getting shorter and women, taller.

College student
I have in fact noticed that women are getting taller, while men seem to be shrinking. Because my girlfriend is 170 centimeters. When she wears shoes with a bit of a heel, she’s taller than I am.

Let’s see the data from the Health Promotion Administration. Between 2013 and 2016, the average 18-year-old man stood at 173.3 centimeters tall. The average woman was 160.7 centimeters. But between 2017 and 2020, the average man’s height shrank by 1.2 centimeters, to 172.1. Women grew 0.5 centimeters to 161.2.

Lin Yi-hsin
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What we can do to influence growth is to encourage children to eat healthy foods, to avoid high-fat fried foods, and to do more exercise. These factors are very much related to growth. Then ensure that they take in adequate protein. That’s the way to help children grow tall.

According to a Taipei physician, growth trends can’t be determined over a short period. He says that healthy habits and a balanced diet are key to promoting growth.

Lin Yi-hsin
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What we see in the survey might only be a statistical anomaly. I think we need to look at the heights of the overall population.

Voice of Chen Li-chuan
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We’ll routinely update our nutritional guidelines and conduct monitoring research. By way of incentives, we’ll also encourage workplaces to conduct nutrition programs.

Under the new central government, the HPA is planning regular events to teach children healthy habits. Experts say that, with obesity rates on the rise, it’s important to have a healthy lifestyle in adolescence, to prevent the abnormal secretion of growth hormones.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Taipei restaurant launches Honduras culinary month

Today we take you to a Taipei restaurant that serves up delicacies from different countries. From June to August, diners can enjoy eight Honduran dishes. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a taste!

The first dish is pupusa. It’s stuffed with beef, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, smoked spices, and cheese.

Camilo Cheng
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Normal people will think that pupusa is only from El Salvador. El Salvador actually shares a very long border with Honduras so they have the same culture as well. Pupusa is made of corn flour and with different kind of stuffings. Usually, they will use cheeses or can also use pork, beef, or chicken. This time, we chose beef to be our pupusa.

Next up is Honduran fried chicken with salsa and plantain chips. Honduran cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, Caribbean, Mesoamerican, and African cuisines. This restaurant in Taipei is offering a three-month culinary event.

Camilo Cheng
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Honduras are well known by the world for their banana production. They export bananas. Once they were a major exporter of whole banana globally. It is quite natural that they have bananas in their daily diet. Every single dishes in Honduras including fried chicken, steak and every kind of things will be accompanied by banana chips. This time, we also showed their traditional fried chicken with banana chips.

The owner of the restaurant is Camilo Cheng. He founded the restaurant in 2015, and every few months, he spotlights cuisines from different countries. After backpacking in Honduras, he decided to develop a menu serving up Honduran cuisine. The menu includes minced beef salad, bean bolognese, a baked tortilla stuffed with egg, cheese and frijoles, pork belly with deep-fried cassava, red bean soup with pork rib, and a cinnamon honey doughnut.

Camilo Cheng
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Although we don’t have a direct flight to Honduras and it takes more than 30 hours departing from Taipei to Honduras, but Honduras is really quite a magnificent country. People are nice and you can experience the well-known Maya Ruins. This time, I want to present my experiences in Honduras and bring back my memories to our customers to experience the Honduran dishes.

The restaurant’s “culinary months” have featured dishes from countries including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and Chile. The restaurant will serve up Honduran cuisine till the end of August.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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YouBike system crashes again, causing commuter chaos

The YouBike system crashed nationwide on Tuesday, locking bikes into their docking systems for half an hour. Commuters were left in a bind on the first workday after the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. This isn’t the first time the bikeshare service had issues. It crashed twice last year, and more recently on May 20. Taipei’s Department of Transportation has issued a warning and a fine to YouBike.

Press the Start button to scan. The welcome screen flashes, but it’s quickly replaced by the words “Out of Service.”

Meng Chia-mei
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Getting a YouBike is often a tall order during rush hour, but this morning at 7:51, docking stations had lines of bikes parked like this. The problem: The system had crashed again. YouBike 2.0s didn’t get back online until 8:27.

Affected commuter
I walked to three YouBike docking stations, but every bike showed that service was temporarily suspended. I was probably half an hour late. I was just shocked by what I saw.

During rush hour on Tuesday, the YouBike system went down for half an hour, triggering a flood of complaints.

Member of public
YouBike is a necessary mode of transportation for many commuters. When the system has a breakdown, it causes a lot of inconvenience to people who are heading to work.

This wasn’t the first time the YouBike system malfunctioned. It crashed twice last year, and again this year on May 20, resulting in bikes being unavailable for an hour. Less than a month later, it’s happened again. Taipei City’s Department of Transportation has fined YouBike NT$10,000, in line with their contract.

Chu Chen-zuo
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The system malfunction didn’t just affect Taipei City. YouBike 2.0s around the nation went offline. We’ve asked the YouBike service to clarify the matter. It seems as if the frequency of system crashes is higher in YouBike 2.0 than the 1.0 system. Our department has asked the YouBike service to provide documentation and investigate the issue. We’re calling on them to ensure system stability.

Taipei’s Department of Transportation issued a stern warning to YouBike, saying that fines may be raised if another incident occurs.

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Hearing the word “Taiwan,” shock and joy appear on the face of Kao Man-jung, who traveled to India to participate in Miss Glam World. Miss Taiwan accepts the winner’s sash and has a crown placed on her head.

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The thought never crossed my mind that I’d be the winner this time, because this competition is really difficult and really tiring. When I became one of the six finalists, I thought that the question-and-answer round would decide the Top 3, so I probably wouldn’t have a chance. But in the end I was fortunate enough to win this honor.

Kao has already been a bit of a household name. A cheerleader for CTBC Brothers’ Passion Sisters, Kao has traveled the world competing in beauty pageants. One contest in particular sent her into the national spotlight.

Two years ago at the Miss Asia Global pageant in Malaysia, Kao was barred from going onstage with the other contestants, reportedly due to Chinese pressure. Cameras caught her fighting back tears. But now, she’s all smiles, with the title of Miss Glam World under her belt.

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All I want to do now is get back to Taiwan, drink some bubble milk tea, and catch up on sleep. This year marks the eleventh year I’ve participated in beauty pageants, and I’ve come to realize it’s not just all about appearance, because they also emphasize a lot of other things, which includes your international perspective, your runway walk, posture, and artistic talents.

After 11 years of hard work, Kao has won her first global title and become the pride of Taiwan.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Influx of tech companies at Port of Kaohsiung drives boom in real estate and business

The influx of tech companies into the Port of Kaohsiung is driving a boom in local real estate and optimism among local businesses. Hon Hai and Nvidia are expected to move into Kaohsiung Software Technology Park. It’s located in the booming Asia New Bay Area, already famous as a cultural and tourism hub for Kaohsiung. Property prices in the area have risen by about 10% in just three months. Business experts say that while the “Nvidia effect” is temporary, the long-term prospects for the district will remain stellar.

Love River is home to the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s largest harbor. With an injection of investment in arts, culture, tourism and technology, the huge Asia New Bay Area has become a famous landmark in Kaohsiung. Now, Hon Hai and Nvidia have announced plans to move into the area, specifically Kaohsiung Software Technology Park. Local businesses expect to see the tech giants drive a boom.

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With companies moving in, it should bring business opportunities. More crowds in the area means more opportunities for business.

Chien Chiao-shan
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Hotels can bring in larger groups of international business travelers, and high-end large-scale conferences and exhibitions.

Local businesses and hotels are optimistic, and the “Nvidia effect” can also be seen in the real estate market.

FTV reporter
Chen Pei-hsin
The arrival of multiple big tech companies in Kaohsiung Software Technology Park has had a knock-on effect on local real estate prices. Prices are soaring for both new-builds and older properties, with prices up almost 10% in just the last quarter.

Member of public
More and more people are buying property here. When people are coming in, of course people want to buy. It’s easier to sell property.

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At the moment 1 ping sells for at least NT$500,000 or NT$600,000, or even NT$700,000. If more big tech companies come in, I would guess it would rise even more.

Figures show that over 5,000 properties were sold in Kaohsiung in May, setting a new record high for volume of sales.

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In the last few years, with the completion of developments in the Asia New Bay Area, which had great prospects to start with, and now with the release of this big news of the companies and industries coming in… It might not be a permanent factor on the market, but nonetheless, in the long-term the trend still seems to be up.

The blooming of the tech sector in Kaohsiung means the Asia New Bay Area is hotting up. Both its businesses and its property owners are experiencing a sudden surge of interest, which experts say is likely to continue into the future.

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