Feature Story
Roy Ngerng, a researcher and fair wage advocate, has written extensively on Taiwan's minimum wage. His work amounts to a comprehensive case for raising the minimum wage, which he shows to be too low for Taiwan's cost of living, too low by international standards, and increasing at a rate too slow to alleviate these problems. We are honored to collect and present his work here.
Many have sought to understand the pandemic year return of the diaspora to Taiwan. How would they benefit Taiwan’s economy? Would they stay? Less attention has been paid to what this means on a personal level for those involved. Here, we reflect on what it means to return — or to not be able to — and what this reverse exodus means for Taiwan.
From Aye Minh Thant’s groundbreaking report on the day of the coup February 1, to transnational perspectives from Kirsten Han in Singapore and Bryan Chou in Taiwan, we bring together a selection of our coverage of the protest movement in Myanmar.
The cash stimulus payments issued by many governments during the Covid-19 pandemic have given new life to calls for a universal basic income (UBI) — unconditional, sustained cash payments. Does UBI have a home in Taiwan? Since Taiwan has avoided calamity from Covid-19, major stimulus wasn’t seen as necessary. But economic stability could be all the more reason to think big about addressing social inequality. Here we evaluate the possibility of launching a UBI program in Taiwan.
Because of its Covid-19 success, Taiwan is on the radar of so many seeking to relocate. Taiwan’s government, too, is interested in drawing more immigrants to the country with programs like the Employment Gold Card. Yet barriers to a fair and just system remain, like low wages and bureaucratic processes. The most glaring of all is the inhumane treatment of migrant workers from Southeast Asia. This series introduces and evaluates recent reforms — and calls attention to the question at the root of immigration debates: What kind of country does Taiwan want to be?
Our world has been plagued by things beyond the coronavirus itself: panic, disinformation, racism, unemployment, and loneliness. In a series of essays, we’re going to talk about the social and psychological impact through personal anecdotes and observations. Together, we would imagine the possibilities that await us after the pandemic.
Innovation didn't seem like Taiwan's strong suit as the tech industry largely remained conservative and stagnant since the 2000s. However, a new breed of entrepreneurs in Taiwan is changing the business landscape with fresh ideas and bold approaches. In our brand new series, we'll bring you stories about Taiwan's new industries and visionaries.
Tsai Ing-wen became Taiwan's first female president in 2016 and she's now running for re-election. But female politicians are not a rarity in Taiwan. In 2020, even more women are running in the legislative election in an attempt to bring about reforms and changes for the public. Who are they, and what do they have to say?
Whenever a presidential election happens in Taiwan, discussions about whether a certain candidate can sell out the country would often ensue. However, does a Taiwanese president have that much authority to put an entire country up for sale? Is being pro-China the equivalent of betraying Taiwan? What about someone leaning towards the United States and Japan — is that less of a crime?
Established in 1962, the Golden Horse Awards are among the most prestigious and time-honored film awards in the world of Sinophone cinema. This year, China banned the Golden Horse Awards and withdrew all the Chinese and Hong Kong films from the competition. Despite Chinese censorship and suppression, the Golden Horse will still honor the talents from Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries. The final results will be revealed at the Golden Horse Awards Ceremony on November 23, 2019.