Taipei: The Executive Yuan has announced its intention to request a legislative revote concerning recently approved amendments that effectively increase retirement pensions for policemen, firefighters, and other members of law enforcement and emergency services.
According to Focus Taiwan, Premier Cho Jung-tai stated in a press release that the Cabinet would, pending President Lai Ching-te's approval, ask the Legislature to reconsider the amendments to the Police Personnel Management Act. The government views these changes as "difficult to implement" and aims to overturn the legislation.
The amendments propose raising the income replacement rate for retired police officers, firefighters, immigration officers, and personnel in the Coast Guard and the National Air Service Corps to as much as 80 percent. These changes, backed by lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), are intended to be applied retroactively.
Currently, pension plans for law enforcement and emergency services personnel align with those of other public servants, with a cap on the income replacement rate set to gradually decrease to 60 percent by 2029. Although the amendments were adopted on January 7, they were not announced by the Legislature until March 24.
The Cabinet expressed concerns that the measures would affect the financial stability and fairness of the public service pension system, impacting both active and retired public servants. It criticized opposition party lawmakers for failing to consult with the executive body, claiming the measures violate Article 91 of the Budget Act, which mandates that legislators seek comments from the Executive Yuan when proposing bills that significantly impact government spending.
Premier Cho noted that additional benefits had already been provided to law enforcement and emergency services personnel due to their demanding work environments. He emphasized that the Cabinet's request aligns with constitutional provisions that allow the executive body to seek a legislative revote with presidential approval if a law is deemed "difficult to implement."
Opposition lawmakers argue that pension plans for law enforcement should match those of the armed forces, citing the high-risk duties and extensive work hours faced by these personnel. They also highlighted new requirements for some police sections to undergo "military training" for deployment in protecting critical infrastructure during wartime.
Conversely, the Ministry of Civil Services has warned that the amendments would exacerbate the financial burden on the public service pension system, which is already facing revenue challenges. The ministry projected a shortfall of NT$170 billion (US$5.1 billion) over the next 50 years, potentially impacting taxpayers.