The Ministry of the Interior will present a plan redefining poverty by the middle of next year so that more people would have access to social welfare, the ministry’s top official said yesterday
Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) said that government support to low-income households was inadequate, with an increasing number of people joining the ranks of the so-called “new poor” who do not qualify for the government’s social welfare programs.
The “new poor” are defined as people with working skills who are in dire financial straits because they have lost their jobs, he said.
One of the ministry’s tasks will be to find a way to define poverty so that the “new poor” will also be covered by government subsidy programs for low-income families, said the minister, who assumed office on Sept. 10.
The ministry defines the low-income population as people whose monthly income falls below the minimum cost of living standard set by the government.
The minimum cost of living currently stands at NT$9,829 in all cities and counties except Taipei City and County, Kaohsiung City, Kinmen and Matsu.
In Taipei City, it is NT$14,558, in Taipei County NT$10,792, in Kaohsiung City NT$11,309, and in Kinmen and Matsu NT$7,400.
Ministry statistics showed that the low-income population rose to 241,237 in the second quarter of the year, an increase of more than 17,300 from the previous quarter.
This represented 1.29 percent of the total population, the highest in recorded history, the ministry said.
Asked about the nation’s falling birth rate, Jiang said that rather than offering incentives for people to have more children, he would try to determine why they were reluctant to do so.
“Subsidies are not the right solution to this problem,” he said.
Ministry statistics showed that the number of newborns last year was 196,486, dropping below 200,000 for the first time.
A US research survey published last month showed that Taiwan has the world’s lowest fertility rate, with an average of one child per woman, with the rate still declining.
The survey by the Population Reference Bureau in Washington showed that Taiwan registered only eight births per 1,000 population this year, the lowest in the world.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had