United Microelectronics (UMC) has unveiled plans to raise its employees' base salaries in 2011 by 7.5% on average. The estimated pay rise doubles the level of previous years, the foundry chipmaker said.

UMC earned net profits of NT$23.9 billion (US$824.6 million) in 2010, the highest in four years. Consolidated revenues for 2010 climbed to a record high of NT$120.43 billion.

Fabless IC design firm MediaTek has also said that the company will make regular adjustments in employee salaries during the first half of 2011. Pay rises will follow the ratios offered by peer companies, it added.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which hiked its employees' salaries by 15% on average in 2010, also plans another salary increase in 2011, company chairman Morris Chang was quoted as saying in previous reports.