Asked about the reversal of position, Wu told reporters the initial increase calculated in accordance with the estimated 5.27 percent rise in consumer prices was “not good enough.”
In light of the fact that some pensions have not been adjusted for many years, the method of calculation “was not fair to social welfare recipients” and “failed to resonate powerfully with the public,” he said.
“We were truly haunted by the proposal of a NT$316 increase in farmers’ monthly pensions. It has become a populist issue, which was unavoidable because it was inconsistent with past practice of a NT$1,000 increase,” Wu said.
He said that the government’s “benign intention” to establish a formula for pension adjustment to depoliticize the issue had been “distorted.”
KMT lawmakers praised the policy change.
KMT caucus whip Lin Yi-shih (林益世) said his caucus would submit a new amendment to the legislature and facilitate deliberation, with an aim to put the new pension plan into effect on Jan. 1 next year.
KMT Legislator Wong Chung-chun (翁重鈞), who had suggested raising the monthly subsidy to at least NT$7,500, said the new proposal was acceptable.
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