Improvement of the living conditions of salt laborers is a matter of public concern in the Republic of China. The total area of salt fields in Taiwan is 4,156 hectares. (About 10,400 acres). In case of rainy weather or typhoons, salt production is curtailed and the income of salt laborers decreases. To improve this situation, the government has, since 1952, provided special funds for the welfare of salt workers. After more than 20 years of endeavor, the salt laborers' life today is not too different from that of residents in average towns. If the weather affects their production, the government grants the salt workers wage subsidies.
There are five salt fields in Taiwan. The average annual production for the last decade was 440,000 metric tons. Since 1968 measures have been taken to increase salt production step by step for the growing industrial demands. Among the measures: improvement of the facilities and operation procedures of the existing salt fields to increase unit production; reclaiming more tidal land to expand operation areas; establishment of a modern salt plant using the electrodialysis process. Today this new plant at Tung Hsiao produces 100,000 metric tons of high quality refined salt annually. About 130,000 metric tons of crude salt originally required as raw material for the manufacturing of refined salt will be saved annually to meet the pressing needs of rapidly growing industries.
Vast salt fields are in the background: Living room of a salt laborer's house.
Vast salt fields are in the background:Living quarters of salt workers.
Vast salt fields are in the background:Day care center in a salt village.
A package of high quality salt
Initial step in harvesting salt
Products of Tung Hsiao salt plant.
@List.jpg?w=522&h=410&mode=crop&format=webp&quality=80)