At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Cho Jung-tai received a Ministry of the Interior (MOI) briefing on a plan to enhance safety for firefighting services. The premier said the MOI has proposed short-, medium- and long-term management strategies for firefighting safety, and the Executive Yuan has approved 22 medium-term projects to gradually strengthen the security and government care of those in the firefighting profession. The premier instructed the MOI to promote its strategies in order to implement seven firefighting policies that will strengthen public safety, assure occupational safety, increase manpower, restock equipment, replace old vehicles, improve facilities and enhance training. He anticipates that the central and local governments can combine their efforts on this front to build a safer Taiwan.
In addition, the Cabinet on Thursday approved draft amendments to the Fire Services Act prepared by the MOI, which will now be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation. Premier Cho said the amendments focus on promoting public safety and advancing occupational health and safety protections for firefighters. Thus they include the addition of a new chapter dedicated to health and safety protections, as well as clauses strengthening disaster risk management by private sector companies based on experiences and lessons from major past fires. These amendments will create safer work environments for the public and safer working conditions for on-duty firefighters, the premier said.