Lawmakers set to review job-creation programs

The legislature will discuss on Friday two controversial job-creation projects proposed by the Cabinet following tough cross-party negotiations, although PFP lawmakers rejected sending the projects directly to the second reading.

Opposition lawmakers also criticized the Cabinet for setting up hot lines for unemployed people to register for jobs they said would be created by the two projects.

The move, they said, was a ploy by the ruling party to harness public opinion in favor of the projects, thereby pressuring opposition lawmakers to vote for them.

Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jyn-ping (王金平) yesterday hosted the cross-party negotiations to resolve controversies raised by NT$70 billion projects, which aim to create 115,000 jobs in public construction and services.

"We have agreed to put the two projects on Friday's agenda for discussion," Wang said after the meeting.

However, he said that PFP lawmakers rejected a proposal, supported by all the other parties, to pass the measures directly to the second reading.

"We will continue to communicate and negotiate before Friday," Wang said.

Wang was also critical of the Executive Yuan for setting up the hot lines before the projects had been approved by the legislature.

"We will help solve problems regarding unemployment, but the Executive Yuan should respect the legislative process," he said.

Echoing Wang's view, Kuo Su-chun (郭素春), deputy director-general of the KMT's Culture and Communications Affairs Committee, said yesterday that the ruling party was clearly using public opinion to pressure the opposition parties into cooperation.

"It feels like the DPP is doing this to attract voters to the party in the 2004 presidential election," Kuo said.

Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday that the hot lines, opened on Saturday, were related to a NT$4 billion Council of Labor Affairs project to create 20,000 jobs, and had nothing to do with the two projects awaiting consideration in the legislature.

"It is a misunderstanding. The fund is a regular annual project implemented to stabilize the employment situation. But we need the two new projects to provide more job opportunities," Yu said.

Yu also said that the move had nothing to do with the 2004 presidential election.

"We only offer these jobs for one year, which will not last until 2004. So how can it be a tool to attract voters?" he said.

Yu said he had talked with Wang on the phone to clarify the misunderstandings.

Yu is scheduled to report to the Legislative Yuan on Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 on details of the two projects to persuade lawmakers of the necessity of the plan.