The legislature yesterday passed amendments to the Temporary Statute Regarding the Welfare Pension of Senior Farmers (
The revised scheme will go into effect on Jan. 1 next year and is estimated to benefit 710,000 farmers and fishermen. The government is projected to spend an additional NT$8.6 billion annually to extend the scheme. The annual cost currently is about NT$23 billion and benefits 670,000 farmers and fishermen nationwide.
The controversial "cross-strait peace advancement bill" (海峽兩岸和平促進法) proposed by the People First Party and the "anti-invasion peace bill" (反侵略和平法) proposed by the Taiwan Solidarity Union were set aside for further cross-party negotiations as well as a commission of inquiry to investigate insider trading by "vulture investment groups."
Legal revisions to the farmer pension law stipulate that the two special municipalities of Taipei and Kaohsiung cities should pay 50 percent of the expenses of senior farmers residing in the two cities, while the central government pays the other 50 percent.
The central government will also shoulder the full payment for senior farmers living in other countries and cities.
Lawmakers also attached three resolutions to the amendments. First, the additional expenses will be covered by supplementary bud-get requests. Second, a perpetual retirement pension scheme for farmers should be established as soon as possible. Finally, a national annuity program should be instituted to allow all senior citizens to receive a monthly pension of NT$7,500.
The farmer-pension law was enacted in 1995 to give senior farmers and fishermen a monthly pension of NT$3,000. The law was later revised to increase the amount to NT$4,000.
The annuity program is designed to benefit those not covered by a private pension provision and was part of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) campaign platform in the 2000 presidential election.
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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