The legislature yesterday passed an amendment allowing draftees to work instead of serving in the military, a move perceived designed to help alleviate the personnel shortage in Research & Development (R&D) departments in traditional industries and in agriculture.
The amendment to the Enforcement Statute for Substitute Services (替代役實施條例) broadened the scope of substitute military service, a program for males of conscription age to perform work in governmental affairs or other services in agencies which require assistance.
Under the current statutory regulations of the statute, substitute service draftees for technology are mostly assigned to work in private high-tech companies.
"But now, traditional industries such as the financial business, textile industries and the civil engineering and construction industries, among others, can also employ draftees as technology personnel," Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lu Hsiu-yen (盧秀燕) said.
The inclusion of R&D draftees in agriculture-related industries was suggested by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Cheng Kuo-chung (
"The government has to encourage more young people to work in agriculture, considering our aging population of farmers and the decrease in agricultural workers," Cheng said after the legislation was passed.
In related news, the legislature passed an amendment to the Employment Insurance Law (
DPP Legislator Lu Tien-lin (盧天麟), who introduced the bill, said that the amendment would benefit about 70,000 households a year.
"The passage of the amendment is of significance as it will help families' with unemployed breadwinners with health care and will contribute to social stability," Lu said.
Lu said the Council of Labor Affairs had estimated that the budget for the additional coverage in a year was approximately NT$ 200 million.
Meanwhile, the legislature yesterday passed a resolution for Taiwan to join the UN's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The UN permits countries that are not UN members to join the treaty.
Also in yesterday's legislative session, an amendment concerning the safety of agricultural products was passed, whereby the government will forbid any organic food without certification from the market two years after the amendment is passed.
Meanwhile, other amendments passed yesterday mean foreigners will be allowed to apply for licenses to work as medical laboratory technologists, medical radiologists or occupational therapists in Taiwan.
The amended regulations require that individuals pursuing these careers renew their licenses every six years after undergoing additional training.
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