The Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus yesterday criticized the government’s pledge to see through reforms to the pension system and claimed the government should start by amending its “underhanded employment practices,” pointing to former New Party legislator Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大) as an example.
The Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) yesterday reported that the Taipei City Government hired Hsieh in July last year. She was promoted to senior specialist at the city government’s secretariat ahead of her 65th birthday, which is also retirement age, allegedly so that she could get a higher pension, the report said.
TSU caucus whip Lai Chen-chang (賴振昌) said Hsieh has always felt she is Chinese and has accepted positions in China, accusing her of chasing a healthy pension in Taiwan by taking up a government job one year before retiring.
If Hsieh truly wants to do something for Taiwan there are many volunteer jobs she could do, Lai said, adding that serving Taiwan did not equate to having a high governmental position.
TSU deputy caucus whip Yeh Chin-ling (葉津鈴) said that Hsieh and others like her are the reason the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is facing strained finances.
Separately yesterday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) city councilors Chien Yu-yen (簡余晏) and Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘) questioned whether Hsieh has People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationality after living there for 10 years and said she could be a threat to national security.
The two added that Hsieh has never attended council meetings, does not have to clock in at work and had not been graded according to standards of employment for a civil servant, which contributes to the controversy of her holding a job at the city government.
In response, Taipei City Government Deputy Secretary-General Wu Kuo-an (吳國安) said that city officials above the 13th level are exempt from clocking in, adding that Hsieh’s office hours are handled by the human resources office.
On the matter of Hsieh’s alleged dual nationality, the city government’s human resources office said Hsieh had signed papers guaranteeing that she was not a national of any other country.
Meanwhile, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) yesterday described Hsieh’s position in the city government as “well-placed,” rebutting allegations that Hsieh was given the job to allow her to get a higher pension.
Hau said that Hsieh has expertise in law and was appointed to help handle domestic violence cases in the city.
Hsieh said she accepted the appointment based on her belief in serving the public and that she has no plans to retire.
She also denied that she is a PRC national.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
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