Members of the Examination Yuan Council approved a revision to pension policy yesterday, tightening the rules for former government employees residing in China.
The measure introduced by the Examination Yuan, the top government branch in charge of selection, performance evaluation and the pensions of public servants, states that retired government employees choosing to receive pensions by monthly payment must report to their former government agency three months before taking up long-term residence in China.
The new rule says retired government employees planning to emigrate to China will give up their right to a monthly pension. Instead, the government would grant the pension in a lump sum.
Former government employees living in China for more than 183 days are subject to the change.
For those leaving for China without official notice, the authorities are empowered to suspend the monthly pension if the violators are found registering for permanent residence in China or obtaining a passport issued by the People's Republic of China, Examination Yuan Secretary-General Chu Wu-hsien (
"The measure was proposed in response to passage of amendments to the Statute Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
Chu said the revised statute demands that retired government officials -- including public servants and appointed officials -- collecting their monthly pension every month renounce their monthly pay and report to their former government departments on their plans to of emigrate to China. The old rule allowed retired public servants to give up the monthly pay only when they voluntarily apply for the change.
The retired government employees whose monthly pension is suspended can resume the pension as long as they return to Taiwan with registered permanent residency, the new rule says.
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