Local assemblymen are to enjoy a virtual "pay-raise" in the near future, despite the fact that their positions are nominally defined as "non-salaried," according to the Ministry of the Interior, which drew up a new set of regulations in August concerning payment for local assembly members.
The regulation will give local assemblymen so-called "research fees," following the example of benefits given to first-tier directors in local-level governments.
Unlike Japan, where assemblymen must take their civil service work as their sole duty and receive full pay for it, Taiwanese local assembly members are considered part-time workers whose jobs are non-salaried under the Local Autonomy Act.
"It's therefore very strange to compare their remuneration to those of full-time administrators,' said Low Su-juan (
She said this kind of payment is a result of Taiwan's unique political climate.
Besides such "research fees," different levels of local assembly members can also receive various allowances for assembly attendance, transportation, meals, aides, and so on. Under the new regulations, these expenditures would cost taxpayers approximately NT$5 billion a year -- not including items still under restrictions -- such as fees for health examinations and overseas travel.
Taking Taipei City councilors as an example, each is eligible for fees totalling approximately NT$2.5 million a year -- a figure which exceeds the salary of a New York City councilor -- or about US$70,500 (NT$2.2 million) per year.
If counting subsidies for their aides, which can be up to NT$240,000 per month, the new rules will grant every councilor an average of NT$5.7 million a year -- far more than the current NT$3.4 million payment.
It makes sense to regard subsidies for aides as an income for many assembly members, "because so many assemblymen hire their relatives or acquaintances as aides to be paid by the government," said Shih Nun-jeh (施能傑), a specialist in public administration at National Chengchi University.
In Low's report, compiled after observing practices in other countries, councilors in the Canadian province of Ontario also have subsidies for aides, but it is expressly forbidden to offer employment to their relatives.
Shih said that although Taiwan assemblymen received far better financial benefits than those in similar positions in other countries, they were hindered in their duties by a lack of other resources, such as proper libraries and databases.
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