President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday reassured the nation's 8 million workers that he will honor his six campaign promises and prevent the introduction of Chinese workers into Taiwan's job market.
In a meeting with labor representatives at the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) headquarters, Chen yesterday reaffirmed his six campaign promises to the labor lobby, including implementing a ban on the introduction of Chinese workers, reducing the unemployment rate to 4 percent, rebuilding the pension system and enshrining workers' rights in the Constitution.
The Legislature passed the Laborers' Pension Law (
Chen yesterday said the passage of the Laborers' Pension Law is a significant improvement to the workers' welfare and a revolutionary change in Taiwan's history, elevating the value of the workforce and the competitiveness of the nation's industries.
"I will honor my six campaign promises to workers. Among them, the Laborer's Pension Law, which was the most difficult task, has been passed. So long as I remain in office as president, I will not allow Chinese workers into Taiwan and I'll continue pushing for workers' rights to be added to the Constitution," Chen said.
Workers' rights refer to the rights of assembly, negotiation and protest.
Chen yesterday said the new pension system allows 90 percent of the workforce that can't claim pension under the old retirement pension system, to be able to enjoy the retirement pension. The new pension system offers pensions to workers despite job changes, while the old system required workers stay in one job their entire career, as any job change would discontinue the worker's seniority, a factor that affects whether or not laborers are given a pension.
"Along with the development of the knowledge-based economy, the industries are getting diverse. Under this circumstance, it is very difficult for an individual laborer to stay in one job permanently. A good pension system should protect laborers' benefits while switching jobs and seeking for further educational training," Chen said.
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