The Executive Yuan yesterday approved two draft amendments to reduce pension benefits for political appointees and public employees, with the drafts outlining larger pension cuts than the Examination Yuan’s versions.
The Executive Yuan approved a draft amendment to the Act Governing the Recompense for the Discharge of Special Political Appointees (政務人員退職撫卹條例) and a draft amendment to the Civil Servant and Teacher Insurance Act (公教人員保險法), which differed from the amendments proposed by the Examination Yuan, although they all seek to phase out an 18 percent preferential savings rate for retired public employees, lower the income replacement rate, extend the retirement age and increase pension premium rates.
In terms of retirement benefits for political appointees, the Executive Yuan’s amendment would lower the income replacement ratio by 15 percentage points over 15 years. The replacement ratio of ministerial-level appointees would be lowered from 65 percent to 50 percent and the replacement ratio of other appointees would be lowered from 75 percent to 60 percent.
Photo: CNA
The Examination Yuan’s proposals seek smaller cuts, with the replacement ratio of ministerial-level appointees to be lowered from 65 percent to 55 percent over 10 years and that of other appointees to be lowered from 80 percent to 70 percent.
In terms of phasing out the 18 percent preferential savings rate, the Executive Yuan’s version would exempt appointees who receive a monthly pension of less than NT$32,160, while the Examination Yuan’s proposal would allow ministerial appointees to retain the preferential rate should their income replacement rate drop to less than 55 percent over the course of pension reform and other appointees would retain the 18 percent saving rate should their income replacement rate drop to less than 70 percent.
In terms of qualification for survivor benefits, the Executive Yuan’s proposal stipulates that underage children or the spouse of a deceased political appointee can receive half the monthly pension paid to the appointee, but the spouse must be aged 65 or older and had been married to the appointee for at least 15 years.
The Examination Yuan’s version has similar requirements for survivor benefits, except that spouses would be entitled to the benefits if they are aged 55 or older and had been married for at least 10 years.
In terms of civil servants’ and teachers’ pensions, the Executive Yuan’s proposal differs from the Examination Yuan’s only in the category of survivor benefits.
The Examination Yuan’s amendment would entitle the widows or widowers of deceased civil servants or teachers to survivor benefits if they are aged 55 or older and had been married for at least two years, while the Executive Yuan’s version sets the age limit at 65 with a marriage duration of at least 15 years.
The draft amendments prepared by the Executive Yuan and the Examination Yuan are to be jointly reviewed by the legislature.
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
RSS