The Executive Yuan on Thursday passed a military pension reform bill in the form of partial amendments to the Act of Military Service for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces, which will now go to the Legislature for review and debate.
Premier Lai Ching-te said that pension reform is a topic of great concern at all levels of society. The major reforms to public-sector pensions promulgated last August 9 by President Tsai Ing-wen are set to take effect on July 1 of this year.
As directed by President Tsai, military pension reforms will be handled separately from those of other public-sector pensions, said the premier. Careful consideration was given to the special nature of military service in drafting revisions that prioritize the rights and interests of military personnel and aim to encourage long careers in the armed forces. Military pension systems in advanced countries around the world were examined in light of conditions in Taiwan to provide the nation's career servicemen and servicewomen with a more sensible and comprehensive military pension system that compares favorably with those of other public-sector employees.
Instructing the Ministry of National Defense and Veterans Affairs Council to carry on with public outreach while also taking the initiative to confer with the ruling and opposition party caucuses in the Legislative Yuan, Premier Lai expressed hope that following legislative review the partial amendments will be quickly passed into law.