Container lines led by Evergreen Marine have been rewarding staff with huge bonuses after bumper 2022 profits.
Taiwan’s Evergreen has handed out extra pay worth between 10 and 52 months of salary.
Container freight rates have been falling from historic highs in the past few months, but lines are still awash with cash following the rebound from pandemic lockdowns.
In 2021, Evergreen offered up to 40 months of pay as a bonus to some employees, the Liberty Times reported.
Most of last year’s payouts fell in the 10 to 45-month range, but those adjudged to have demonstrated superior performance banked 52 months.
Evergreen has not commented on the details beyond saying each worker was compensated based on his or her performance. The owner reported a net profit of TWD 304.35bn ($9.91bn) in the first nine months of last year, up 92% year on year.
Domestic rival Yang Ming Marine was paying out up to 13 months of salary. Nine-month earnings at the company were TWD 165.85bn.
Meanwhile, Le Marin reported that French giant CMA CGM paid 10 weeks of wages as a bonus.
Chief executive Rodolphe Saade told staff that a general wage increase agreement for office personnel was also signed off.
The company made $21.8bn in the first nine months.
In 2021, workers received eight weeks of extra pay.
The general pay rise consists of 6% to combat inflation, plus 2% for certain individuals.
Profit-sharing will also see staff handed an extra two months’ salary.
