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Taiwan’s Democracy Grapples With Low Wages

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By TaiwanPlus

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Taiwan’s low wages have become a hot issue among the country's presidential hopefuls. KMT nominee Hou Yu-ih is proposing to raise the minimum wage by 20%, while frontrunner Lai Ching-te of the DPP promises to establish a minimum wage law. Analysts point out, however, that Lai’s promise is the same as that of President Tsai Ing-wen. She failed to achieve her goal over the course of two terms in office. On this episode of Zoom In Zoom Out, we speak with labor rights researcher and activist Roy Ngerng. Roy discusses how Taiwan’s cost of living compares to the country's salaries and why this may threaten the health of Taiwan’s democracy.