Funds managed by the Ministry of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Funds earned NT$20.9 billion (US$641.14 million) in October, bringing this year’s gains to NT$93.91 billion as of the end of October, a report by the bureau showed yesterday.
The funds were valued at NT$6.8814 trillion and saw a 14.96 percent return rate for the first 10 months of the year, the bureau said in its latest fund performance report.
The funds include the Labor Pension Fund, valued at NT$4.5106 trillion with a 14.59 return rate, the Labor Retirement Fund (NT$1.047 trillion, 17.92 percent), the Labor Insurance Fund (NT$1.096 trillion, 16.64 percent) and the Employment Insurance Fund (NT$172.4 billion, 3.42 percent).
Photo: Lee Chin-hui, Taipei Time
The funds also comprise the Labor Occupational Accident Insurance Fund (NT$36.5 billion, 1.40 percent) and the Arrear Wage Payment Fund (NT$19.4 billion, 11.64 percent).
The bureau also reviewed the performance of the financial markets, saying that US retail sales were solid in September, as were non-farm payroll reports and the non-manufacturing index.
However, Taiwan’s financial market performance in October was relatively weak, apart from the relatively solid stock market, it said.
The Ministry of Labor said that varied interest rate policies, uneven growth, the development of artificial intelligence-related industries, the new US government’s fiscal policy and geopolitical conflicts could lead to uncertainty in the global financial market.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19