The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed approved a statute governing the development of Taoyuan International Airport Zone, which will create a free trade zone near the airport where businesses will enjoy preferential taxes and fewer labor restrictions.
The statute exempts foreign and domestic businesses that authorize companies in free trade ports to stock inventory or process materials for export from paying business income tax. If companies sell to domestic businesses, then the proportion of income exempt from tax would be 10 percent of the total amount exported.
It also stipulates that Aborigines make up at least 3 percent of the work force in companies in the free trade ports. Foreign labor would be governed by the Employment Services Act (就業服務法) and the Act for the Establishment and Management of Free Ports (自由貿易港區設置管理條例), with the exception that service sectors may not hire foreign labor or workers from China.
Since October, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has been pushing to exempt the airport zone from labor regulations in local free trade zones — such as a minimum wage, requirements that foreign workers be limited to 40 percent of a company's work force and that Aborigines make up at least 5 percent.
The draft statute comes at a sticky timing when unemployment rates have been climbing to record highs and the number of people on unpaid leave even higher. It has also drawn criticism from labor associations, protesting that more Taiwanese would lose their jobs if the government opens up to more foreign labor.
The Taoyuan International Airport currently employs 8,000 domestic workers, but once the draft statute is passed, foreign workers could take up as much as 40 percent of the work force and 3,200 domestic workers could lose their jobs, said Mao Chen-fei (毛振飛), chairman of the Confederation of Taoyuan Trade Unions.
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
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
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,
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