An Anti-Low Wage Film
點點微光
Directed & Produced by Sylvie Chen
Film Length: 3 mins 05 secs
Language: Mandarin / English
Released On: 18/08/2017
Genre: Animation
Each one representing an unconsidered, automatic, mechanical processing of their abilities resulting in the dark shadows that lie underneath the current Taiwanese social system and current low wage policy.
To counter this lack of judgment Chen introduces light to reveal and suggest redemption. An alternative path forwards to tackle the massive production worker and immoral capitalist payment structures in place today, revealing at the end The Yellow Envelope Co. as a way of redefining attitudes and the perception of Taiwan as unprogressive.
This film is intended to be the first of 22 culturally significant activities organized by The Yellow Envelope Co. to highlight, create awareness, and importantly encourage new attitudes and solutions to this damaging social issue.
This film launches a campaign to highlight Taiwan’s current attitude towards the salary levels paid to the youth of the country. It focuses on those who are paid 22k (NT$) per month, which is the equivalent of approximately £510 (GBP / August 2017) – which leads to difficulty in managing their expenses.
According to Taiwanese news reports, unequal wages are a serious issue for many people.
Detailed research carried out by Chen includes information from TV talk shows, journals, and several online articles as well as interviews with friends who have suffered from low wage issues.The film narrative presents the issue as an ironic modern urban animation, using the daily routine of getting to work to portray the issues.
Graduates are set as the main characters and are shown working in a massive metropolitan factory.
黃色信封計畫
The Yellow Envelope Campaign
The Yellow Envelope Co. campaign is a love sending activity, which targets the recruitment process, and is a way for Taiwan industry to be recognised as changing for the better.
It begins with the job interview – which if you feel is successful in identifying new and better ways to reward workers for their efforts by the employer – will result in your ability to make a Yellow Envelope Award here. These Companies will be recognised here on the Yellow Envelope Co. site and they will invited to represent and contribute towards further to the debate on enterprise initiatives to build a better understanding of Taiwan and it’s attitude to modern business practice and the well-being of its citizens.
Campaign Length: 8/18/2017~2/12/2017
Eligibility: Graduates 2017
Charge: Free
22K低薪現象
What is 22K?
The 22k figure originated in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. As businesses across the board foundered, the Ministry of Education allocated a special budget to subsidize the monthly salary for interns who had just finished school and started work, bringing it up to NT$22,000.
However, 22k has gradually taken on a new life as an accepted standard, influencing how companies remunerate their employees and are reflected in the expectations of workers as they enter the workplace. As a result, the 22k policy limited the number of wage rises, as employers were only concerned about business profits, and not the rising costs due to inflation and other social factors.
There are three main consequences to adopting this policy:
-
The fertility rate has reduced. The youth who do not earn enough money to prepare for, and build their own family.
-
Marriage phobia happens. Many young couples are remaining single, because they can not afford wedding expenses.
-
Buying a house is way too expensive. Taiwanese youth with average salaries are unable to consider financing home ownership as the high price of real estate prohibits the youth from participation.
Q:
Compared to the other East Asia countries, Taiwanese graduates earn the lowest wage. Earnings are highest in South Korea, followed by Singapore, then Hong Kong and Japan.
Due to this policy of low salaries; many young workers in Taiwan decide to work abroad, by applying for the working holiday program in Austria, Japan or other European countries. Awareness of this damaging brain-drain phenomenon should be increased as it damages the reputation of Taiwan, and it’s ability to benefit from the potential these workers offer.
What are other East Asian countries income levels like?
Q:
The reasons why you can't live on only 22k?
This pie chart shows the average salary of a college graduate is around NT$22000 (£510 GBP, approximately per month). This figure when average living costs are taken into account: transport, food, rent, and a student loan results in NT$4000 (£101) remaining.
This amount does not enable Taiwanese Youth to save or invest in their future no matter how hard they try.
Q:
What were Taiwan’s graduate salary levels like ten years ago?
As one of the countries of the Far East Asia area, Taiwanese workers are known to be low paid and hard working. According to mass-media statistics, the average wage in Taiwan in 1999 is the same as it is today.
This indicates that current salary levels have not risen in line with inflation. Wages should take into account economic market conditions.
