In response to demands for a reduction in President Chen Shui-bian's (
"The president receives NT$822,000 per month. This is higher than the world average but not higher than those of some countries such as Singapore and the US," Chu said at a press conference yesterday, adding that the vice president's monthly salary of NT$620,000 would also be reviewed.
In fact, Chen's salary ranks second only to that of the Singaporean president. The US intends to raise its president's salary shortly, but until it does so, President Chen will continue to receive greater remuneration than US presidents.
"Factors to consider in determining a reasonable salary include GNP, the national budget, government officials' salary structures and those of the private sector," said Ou Yu-chan (
DPP legislator Lin Cho-shui (
The CPA was reluctant to reveal more details of the salary plan yesterday, but insisted that Chen had not expressed concern over the matter.
The DPP, before it came to power, had long argued that salaries for the president and vice president in Taiwan were way too high. In order to dampen such criticism, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) had in recent years refused salary increases.
The CPA yesterday also announced a planned 3 percent salary rise for civil servants effective Jan. 1, at a total cost of NT$20 billion -- including NT$15.1 billion for central government employees.
Chu further added that the CPA was also working on a performance-related bonus program for the central government.
The previous administration had operated a year-end bonus program (年終獎金), under which civil servants with "excellent" performance ratings were rewarded with up to three month's salary in year-end bonuses while others received only half that. Chu, however, said such measures would not be followed, and a new scheme would be settled upon.
"We will come up with new measures for bonus distribution within three months," he said.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man plowed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night. Footage showing bodies lying on the pavement appeared on social media in the hours after the crash, but had vanished by early Tuesday morning, and local police reported only “injuries.” It took officials nearly 24 hours to reveal that dozens had died — in one of the country’s deadliest incidents in years. China heavily monitors social media platforms, where it is common for words and topics deemed
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
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