Over 40 percent of college graduates think that compulsory military service is a waste of time, while nearly 70 percent favor the government opening up alternative military service in private busi-nesses, a recent survey found.
According to a poll conducted between April 16 -- May 31 by the head-hunting Web site, www.1111.com.tw (1111人力銀行), 43.5 percent of this year's graduates surveyed view the current conscription system as a waste of time, while 28.3 percent think it is not fair.
Around 40 percent are not satisfied with the conscription system, with 17.2 percent of them expressing "extreme dissatisfaction." Only 12.8 percent said they are satisfied or very satisfied with current practices.
Some 25.5 percent of the poll respondents think the service period of two or three years is too long, while 15.2 percent see it as a good opportunity for "self-training" and 13.1 see it as a necessary obligation.
As for a Ministry of National Defense proposal to allow conscripts to do alternative military service in private companies, which would sustain their salaries, 68.6 percent said they would welcome such a move, with only 25 percent disagreeing, according to the survey conducted.
The ministry said recently that it is studying the possibility of widening the scope of the alternative military service by having conscripts serve their terms in private enterprises -- mainly high-tech companies needing professionals. The ministry said the idea could help those companies fill their vacancies while reducing the financial burden on the government.
Regarding the requirements that draftees must apply for the "entrepreneurial military service," 62 percent of the graduates polled favor restrictions to allow only those with special skills to be eligible.
That number is far above the 27.5 percent who would prefer a total opening of such a program to all conscripts.
In addition, 45.2 percent of respondents agreed that no limitations should be set on the academic backgrounds of those wishing to do alternative military service in private enterprises.
However, 39.5 percent said they believe graduates with electronics and electrical engineering majors should be the top choice, ahead of 29.5 percent who suggested those with majors in computer science should be favored and 26.8 percent who said business management majors should be the top choice.
Some 57 percent of this year's graduates are willing to do alternative military service in private firms, far above 21.4 percent who said they would be reluctant to accept such a posting.
According to the Web site, it received 3,225 valid responses to its survey through interviews or e-mail, with males accounting for 89.3 percent of the respondents.
The Web site said graduates with majors in business management and finance made up 32.2 percent of those who responded, while those majoring in science and technology accounted for 41 percent.