Taipei Times
Date: Mar 22, 2018
By: Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter

The average monthly salary of certified nurse assistants is only NT$31,417 following the implementation of a new long-term care payment system earlier this year, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said yesterday, but added that he is confident that it would increase within six months.

In November last year, Chen told the Legislative Yuan’s Economic and Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee that the Ministry of Health and Welfare would take measures this year to increase the minimum monthly salary of professional caregivers to NT$32,000 as an incentive for them to remain in their jobs.

At a meeting of the committee in Taipei yesterday, Chen said that the average monthly salary of certified nurse assistants in January was NT$31,417, falling short of the goal, but added that the ministry would continue efforts to achieve the goal this year.

Several lawmakers said many certified nurse assistants have complained that they now earn even less than they did before the new payment system was implemented in January, which changed a time-based pricing mechanism to one based on services provided.    [FULL  STORY]