Saying it is impossible to implement the new pension plan for retired teachers, civil servants and military personnel before the end of this year, Examination Yuan acting Secretary-General Tsai Liang-wen (蔡良文) said yesterday that the most likely target date is Feb.1.
Cabinet Secretary-General and spokesman Cho Jung-tai (
But Tsai said that any date before Jan. 1 is out of the question, and that it would be risky to promise Jan. 15.
He also said it was quite odd for Cho to have come up with such a "suggestion."
"[Cho] knows this issue well, too. Technically, it would be a rush for all the related government agencies to overcome all difficulties and then implement the new plan any time before Feb. 1," Tsai said. "I think Feb. 1 would be a proper date to begin this thing."
Tsai said the Examination Yuan will organize a meeting on Dec. 27 to iron out the details about the new pension rules.
If everything goes without a hitch, the new regulation could be authorized during the next weekly Examination Yuan meeting, which is scheduled for Dec. 29.
"For now, I can definitely assure you that nothing will happen before Jan. 1," Tsai said.
On Nov. 16, Premier Frank Hsieh had announced that the new rules would take effect in one month's time.
The pension revision applies to teachers, military personnel and civil servants with a service record of 25 years or more.
Those who retire after 25 years will earn a monthly pension amounting to 85 percent of their monthly paychecks.
One percentage point will be added for those who served between 25 and 35 years, while people retiring after more than 35 years of service will receive 95 percent of their monthly paychecks.
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