The new rule on pension benefits for civil servants, teachers and military personnel, which was announced by the Examination Yuan last week, will take effect on Dec. 16, Premier Frank Hsieh (
"We have been working on this [new rule] for a long time and have finally completed it. The new regulation will become effective on Dec. 16, and all civil servants, teachers and military personnel will have to abide by it," Hsieh said.
The premier made the announcement during the weekly Cabinet meeting.
The new rule was finalized and introduced by the Examination Yuan on Nov. 10, and applies to civil servants, teachers and military personnel with a service record of 25 years or more.
Those who retire after 25 years will earn a monthly pension amounting to 85 percent of their monthly paycheck. One percentage point will be added for those who retire after between 25 and 35 years, while people retiring after more than 35 years will receive 95 percent of their monthly paycheck.
The premier also announced that holding a position in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) during the period in which the KMT ruled the country would not be regarded as being employed in the civil service.
Although many high-ranking KMT officials currently enjoy significant pension benefits, they might not qualify for the new program based on the length of their actual civil service record.
"We will ask the KMT or the officials concerned to return the money that does not belong to them," Hsieh said.
His comment was made in response to a complaint that pension benefits enjoyed by former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰), Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) and KMT Vice Chairman Kuan Chong (關中) were based on the time they had spent as KMT officials plus the length of their government-service record.
Kuan said yesterday that he would definitely return the money which does not belong to him as soon as the details have been worked out.
The KMT vice chairman said that he had just supplied the required details and that the length of his certified service record had been determined by government officials.
"The government's personnel department calculated the length of our civil service. They decided what to combine or not, not me," Kuan said.
The KMT's bottom line is to cooperate with the government instead of fighting against it; consequently all retired KMT officials will follow the Examination Yuan's new pension rule, Kuan said.
"I sincerely hope that the Democratic Progressive Party is not taking advantage of this issue as a token gesture before the elections," he said.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
RSS