The Presidential Office’s committee on pension reform will hold a series of regional forums in November to start discussion of specific issues facing the pension system.
Efforts to reform the pension system have angered public sector employees, who say they have been unfairly blamed for the system’s financial woes. Earlier in the month, military personnel, teachers, and civil servants rallied in Taipei. Protestors demonstrated against the stigma they say they have come to face as the government pushes for pension reform. The government says its efforts to reform the pension system do not single out or target workers in certain fields, and that the goal is to create a sustainable system.
According to the Cabinet, the committee on pension reform has held twelve meetings so far, and it will now begin addressing substantive issues. Forums will be held in northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan, allowing delegates from around Taiwan to make their voices heard. The regional forums will be followed by a national conference in January.
The first issue up for discussion is the structure of the pension system. Later topics will include pension payments, qualifications for getting a pension, and the system’s financial resources. The Cabinet says it hopes the discussions will lead to proposals for revising the laws governing pensions.