Improved operations: Far Eastern Air transports gives pay raises to 200 employees

Travel Center / Taipei Report

Amid the global economic downturn, Taiwan’s GDP growth rate this year (2013) faces the challenge of staying above 2%. Many companies have resorted to cutting staff or freezing wages. However, in the more than two years since resuming flights, Far Eastern Air Transport has been dedicated to improving its corporate structure and increasing revenue. Aside from hiring flight attendants recently, the airline has also brought on board 68 pilots, maintenance technicians, ground staff, and administrative employees over the past four months. Far Eastern Air chairman Chang Kang-wei further announced that starting from November, frontline and other employees will receive salary increases, with the highest raise reaching up to 14%, benefiting over 200 people.


▲ Far Eastern Air Transport. (Photo / Courtesy of official website)

Premier Jiang Yi-huah recently stated that the fruits of economic development must be reflected in higher salaries for people to truly feel the benefits. To encourage employees to focus on innovation, Far Eastern Air has decided to “reward from the bottom up,” with over 30% of frontline employees receiving salary increases ranging from 3% to 14% starting this November. Including those who received raises over the past year, the total number of employees getting a pay hike exceeds 50%.

Chang Kang-wei stated that aside from raising salaries for frontline workers, the airline will also continue to hire over 200 more employees in the future, bringing the total number of Far Eastern Air staff to over 1,000. He expressed hope that this would help increase job opportunities in society. Chang also noted that Far Eastern Air is currently focused on operating routes to Taiwan’s outlying islands, offering many discounts to passengers traveling to these regions, while also actively participating in public welfare activities to assist the government in resolving various issues.

When asked by reporters why this round of salary increases primarily targets frontline employees, Chang Kang-wei explained that many companies hire fresh graduates at minimum wage, which places a heavy financial burden on these employees. Providing them with appropriate salary adjustments—even a few thousand dollars—can serve as a significant source of encouragement. This not only aids economic development but also boosts employee morale and helps them focus more on their work.