Taiwan to raise monthly minimum wage to NT$29,500 from 1 January 2026
Summary
Taiwan’s Basic Wage Commission reached consensus on 26 September 2025 to raise the monthly basic (minimum) wage to NT$29,500 and the hourly basic wage to NT$196, effective 1 January 2026. The increase represents a 3.18% uplift. The Ministry of Labor will forward the proposal to the Executive Yuan for approval. If confirmed, this will be the 10th consecutive annual increase, with cumulative rises of 47.4% (monthly) and 63.3% (hourly) since the trend began.
Key Points
- New monthly minimum wage: NT$29,500 (effective 1 January 2026).
- New hourly minimum wage: NT$196 — a 3.18% rise overall.
- Proposal was agreed by labour groups, employer bodies, academia and government at the Basic Wage Commission meeting on 26 September 2025.
- Ministry of Labor will submit the adjustment to the Executive Yuan for final approval.
- About 2.47 million workers will benefit from the increase, including roughly 2.08 million local workers.
- This would mark the 10th straight year of minimum wage increases in Taiwan.
- Cumulative increase since the series of hikes began: 47.4% (monthly) and 63.3% (hourly).
Context and relevance
This raise sits within a decade-long policy of regular minimum wage adjustments aimed at improving living standards and keeping pace with inflation and labour market pressures. For HR teams, payroll teams and employers with operations or staff in Taiwan, the change affects salary budgeting, payroll configurations and potential wage negotiations from January 2026. It also signals ongoing government and social consensus towards progressive wage policy in the region.
Author note
Punchy: This is not just another percent increase — it’s the 10th straight year of rises and will touch nearly 2.5 million pay packets. If you manage pay or workforce costs in Taiwan, the details matter.
Why should I read this?
Quick and useful — if you run payroll, recruit or set budgets in Taiwan, you’ll want to know the date, the exact figures and how many people are affected. We’ve done the digging so you don’t have to: check your payroll timelines, update HR systems and factor this into 2026 cost planning.
