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Legislature raises pensions for farmers, fishermen

The legislature yesterday passed amendments to the Temporary Statute Regarding the Welfare Pension of Senior Farmers (老年農民福利津貼暫行條例), which will increase the monthly pension of senior farmers from NT$4,000 to NT$5,000.

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.
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