■ Politics
KMT says no sackings soon
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) denied reports yesterday that it would fire more than 1,000 employees after the Lunar New Year. KMT spokesman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭) yesterday said that while greater efficiency in human resources has been a goal
of the party since the presidential elections in March, there were no set plans or a timetable for a mass dismissal. Rumors
that the KMT is planning
to dismiss all of its 1,700 employees and rehire just 500 are thought to be responsible for the recent suicide of long-time KMT employee Chen Wei-chieh (陳偉傑). Chen, who had worked in the KMT's Chungshan district office in Taipei for 20 years, killed himself on Tuesday night. The rumors were mentioned in his suicide letter.
■ Labor Affairs
Council calls for help
The Council for Labor Affairs has called for assistance for foreign workers from countries affected by tsunamis in South Asia, urging local employers to help their employees if they are in need. The council called on owners of businesses and labor brokers to do their best to offer assistance to needy workers who are from countries devastated by one of the world's worst natural catastrophes. India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand were hit the hardest. Labor brokers say they have so far received
no appeals for help from workers from the affected countries, as most of the foreign workforce in Taiwan are not from the areas which suffered damage. Indonesian workers in Taiwan mainly come from Java, while Thai workers mostly come from northern parts of the country, the labor brokers said.
■ Diplomacy
Name change on hold
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not include the name "Taiwan" in the titles of overseas missions and state-owned enterprises
until the Legislative Yuan approves, ministry spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said yesterday. He said that the foreign ministry will abide by a resolution passed by the legislature on Wednesday stipulating that the foreign ministry must obtain consent from legislative committees and the Cabinet prior to making any changes. Lu added that the foreign ministry must also have the consent of
the governments of the countries where the changes will take place before altering any designations. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said late last year that the word "Taiwan" would be included in the names of the nation's overseas missions and
state-owned enterprises to highlight the nation's separate identity.
■ Tsunami Aid
Relief team sent to Medan
A three-member medical team from the Taichung Hospital under the Department of Health departed yesterday for Medan in Indonesia, officials from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs said. The medical team, including a doctor and two medical workers, will set up a station to help victims of the tsunami spawned by the Dec. 26 earthquake under the Indian Ocean, the officials said. The team, formed after coordination between the ministry and the Department of Health, is scheduled to be in Indonesia for seven to 10 days, they said. The ministry has already contacted the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta to ensure the team receives the help it needs.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan at 7pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter of the temblor was at sea, about 69.9km south of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 30.9km, it said. There were no immediate reports of damage resulting from the quake. The earthquake’s intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was highest in Taitung County’s Changbin Township (長濱), where it measured 5 on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 4 in Hualien, Nantou, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Miaoli counties, as well as
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
COMMITMENTS: The company had a relatively low renewable ratio at 56 percent and did not have any goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy, the report said Pegatron Corp ranked the lowest among five major final assembly suppliers in progressing toward Apple Inc’s commitment to be 100 percent carbon neutral by 2030, a Greenpeace East Asia report said yesterday. While Apple has set the goal of using 100 percent renewable energy across its entire business, supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, carbon emissions from electronics manufacturing are rising globally due to increased energy consumption, it said. Given that carbon emissions from its supply chain accounted for more than half of its total emissions last year, Greenpeace East Asia evaluated the green transition performance of Apple’s five largest final
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
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