DEFENSE/Defense ministry estimates NT$30 billion annual cost of pay hike

Taipei, July 1 (CNA) Amendments to the Pay Act of the Armed Forces will cost an estimated NT$30 billion (US$1.03 billion) in additional annual personnel expenditure, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.

The changes, which passed a third reading in the Legislative Yuan on June 10 and were formally promulgated by the Office of the President on June 27, raise compensation for both volunteer and conscripted servicepersons.

Under the revised law, monthly allowances for volunteer servicepersons will increase from the current range of NT$13,000-NT$15,000 to NT$30,000, the MND said.

For conscripted servicepersons, total monthly compensation must now meet or exceed the minimum wage as defined under the Minimum Wage Act.

Currently, a conscripted second-class private in the military earns NT$22,000 per month, according to the MND.

ministry will carry out the law in accordance with legal procedures and Executive Yuan directives.

Major General Kao Chih-hsiung (高志雄) from the MND's Department of Resource Planning said the NT$30 billion figure reflects the estimated total increase in personnel expenditure following pay adjustments.

Kao said salary adjustments for conscripted servicepersons are still under review and will be implemented according to the law.

He added that the MND is working with the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) to finalize the changes and include them in upcoming budget plans.

Lieutenant General Sun Li-fang (孫立方), the MND's spokesperson and director of the ministry's political affairs office, said the government already implemented pay increases for volunteer servicepersons and combat units, and will roll out boarding privilege measures in July, with additional measures planned.

According to Sun, the government's efforts demonstrate both its respect for servicepersons and recognition of their roles.

Sun added that recruitment and retention figures have all improved this year compared to last year.