Six major trade associations will hold a news conference Monday to vent their anger over the government's decision to increase health insurance premiums. The associations, which include the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI) and the General Chamber of Commerce of the ROC, estimated that the hikes -- from 4.55 precent to 5.17 percent, to be effective April 1 -- will create additional labor costs by over NT$20 billion per year. They will say Monday that the hikes will impact labor costs and could affect business competitiveness and investment willingness. The groups will demand a law revision to cut the ratio employers must pay for the cost from 60 percent to 50 percent of their employees' premiums, while making the government raise its ratio from 10 percent to 20 percent. At present, the government shoulders 10 percent of the cost per insured person, while the employer pays 60 percent and the individual pays 30 percent. The CNFI said that in recent years, the government has pushed for pregnancy and maternity leave, and that the latest hikes will add even more costs for employers. It said the ratio of labor cost to wage cost has already surpassed those of Taiwan's neighbors. But Department of Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang disagreed with the views of the major trade associations, saying their anger has 'no plausible reasons.' Yaung said he knows about the hardships of businesses but he also noted that some businesses have 'high-profile year-end banquets,' and others 'don't pay their taxes.' 'They keep their mouths shut when taking advantage but cry foul when they have to pay,' he said. If the associations ask the government to increase its ratio, the government will in turn have to raise tax rates to provide the public with better protection, he went on. He noted that tax revenues account for between 12 percent and 13 percent of Taiwan's GDP, compared with 24 percent in South Korea and 40 percent in France. 'If we want better social protection yet we do not want to pay taxes, where can we find the money to finance such protection? ' he asked rhetorically. 