The legislature unanimously approved a 33 percent increase in the monthly pension for old farmers yesterday.
In July, the Cabinet proposed raising the stipends given to elderly farmers from NT$3,000 to NT$4,000 starting on Jan. 1 next year. An estimated 710,000 farmers will benefit from the policy, which will cost the government NT$8.1 billion.
The Cabinet explained that the increased pension was to equalize the discrepancy in incomes after pensions for farmers compared with soldiers and teachers.
The amount of the rise, the government said, is supposed to reflect the change in the cost of living since the stipend was introduced in 1995.
The government also expressed the hope that the increased pension would alleviate some of the impact WTO membership is having on the agricultural sector.
The legislation passed yesterday requires the government to review the size of the stipend every five years to keep it in line with changes to the prices of commodities.
Lawmakers yesterday also dealt with the dangers of firecracker production. Firecracker manufacturers are now prohibited from locating factories near gasoline stations, gunpowder ware-houses or highly explosive materials. Illegal manufacturers could face a maximum three years in prison or a NT$3 million fine.
The move comes in response to an explosion at a Miaoli factory on Nov. 16 that killed five people.
Lawmakers also tightened rules on the use of firecrackers, requiring parents to accompany their children when using firecrackers, a move particularly praised by Taiwan Solidarity Union Legislator Chien Lin Whei-jun (
"The article is extremely significant educationally and meaningful to protect the safety of adolescent users," Chien Lin said.
The legislative sitting yesterday also confirmed a motion jointly presented by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party about revamping the constitution.
The opposition parties called for a constitutional amendment to annul the rule that a 300-member National Assembly be formed to approve changes to the Constitution.
The motion said that "a referendum of the electorate of the Republic of China should take place to confirm legislative proposals on constitutional amendments or territorial alterations" to replace the role of the ad hoc National Assembly.
Legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said: "Multiparty negotiations will be convened soon to discuss rules for forming the special legislative committee in charge of constitutional amend-ments following the confirmation of the motion."
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