Official statistics show that the number of Taiwan workers who earn less than NT$20,000 per month -- roughly the same as the minimum wage -- has now reached 1.38 million. This is an increase of 240,000 compared with the period before the global financial crisis. Furthermore, if the 600,000 people working without pay in family business are included, the number will be almost 2 million. These figures tell us that the working poor problem is worsening as the wealth gap continues to widen in the country, and that the high economic growth is benefiting only a tiny minority. The government should be held accountable for failing to institute an equitable tax system. The progressive rates adopted for income tax, gift tax, inheritance tax and land value-added tax were originally meant to balance the distribution of wealth. However, the system has been damaged by various tax reductions and exemptions introduced under the pretext of promoting investment. Meanwhile, a task force set up by the Cabinet to address the problem of wealth inequality has not put forward any substantive resolutions in the four months it has been in operation. This is not because our policy makers do not have a clue, but because they are too timid to make critical decisions. We hope our government officials will think more about the plight of these 2 million workers and their families and make a move soon. 