Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan)

Premier Lin Chuan today received a briefing on new government programs and public service measures that will take effect in 2017, instructing agencies to step up publicity and help the public understand the programs that will make their lives easier. He also asked agencies that deal directly with the public to provide services more efficiently and take the initiative to solve problems for businesses and citizens, ensuring that they benefit from these policies.

The briefing, delivered by the Executive Yuan's Department of Coordination and Planning, outlined the following new programs for 2017:

1. April 7 will be designated Freedom of Speech Day. (Ministry of the Interior, MOI)
2. Online visa applications will be simplified for Hong Kong and Macau residents taking cruise ships to Taiwan. (MOI)
3. A pilot project to train reservist forces will be launched. (Ministry of National Defense)
4. The preferential home mortgage program for young people will be extended. (Ministry of Finance, MOF)
5. Adjustments will be made to the 2017 individual income tax scheme. (MOF)
6. Business taxes will be levied on cross-border e-commerce retailers. (MOF)
7. Adjustments will be made to the online sales tariff system. (MOF)
8. A Taiwan-Japan taxation agreement will take effect. (MOF)
9. A Taiwan-Canada taxation agreement will take effect. (MOF)
10. Public education and care services for young children will be expanded. (Ministry of Education, MOE)
11. An education and employment savings account program for young people will be launched. (MOE)
12. The Supreme Prosecutors Office's special investigation division will be abolished. (Ministry of Justice)
13. Taxi driver eligibility requirements will be made more stringent. (Ministry of Transportation and Communications, MOTC)
14. Aircraft landing and parking fees will be lowered for international carriers. (MOTC)
15. A metro line connecting downtown Taipei and the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport will begin operation. (MOTC)
16. The national minimum wage will be raised. (Ministry of Labor, MOL)
17. New rules on paid leave will come into effect, and all workers will enjoy the same number of holidays. (MOL)
18. The labor insurance (including employment insurance) premium rate will be raised from 10 percent to 10.5 percent. (MOL)
19. The national pension insurance premium rate will be raised to 8.5 percent. (Ministry of Health and Welfare, MOHW)
20. The minimum insured salary amount for National Health Insurance will be adjusted to NT$21,009 (US$661.50). (MOHW)
21. The long-term care 2.0 plan will be officially launched. (MOHW)
22. Food safety management measures will be tightened. (MOHW)
23. The Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act will be implemented. (Ministry of Science and Technology, MOST)
24. A children and youth education development fund will be created. (MOST)
25. Science parks will offer preferential rates for leasing land in 2017. (MOST)
26. The Toxic and Chemical Substances Bureau will begin operations. (Environmental Protection Administration, EPA)
27. Water pollution fees will be imposed on the livestock industry. (EPA)
28. Agricultural insurance programs will be implemented on a trial basis. (EPA)
29. Listed companies with paid-in capital of at least NT$5 billion (US$157.43 million) but less than NT$10 billion (US$314.86 million) will be required to submit a report on corporate social responsibility for the previous year. For companies with accumulated losses, this requirement will not apply until 2019. (Financial Supervisory Commission, FSC)
30. Restrictions were lifted to allow exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track domestic securities to apply cash creation and redemption mechanisms in the primary market.. (FSC)
31. Background checks will be conducted on account holders using cross-border remittance services. (FSC)
32. Interbank ATM withdrawal fees will be waived for persons with disabilities. (FSC)
    

Measures to make life more convenient for citizens in 2017:

1. A platform for uploading electronic account statements will be established for profit-seeking enterprises. (MOF)
2. Nonresidents will be able to submit tax withholding statements online. (MOF)
3. Patent and trademark applicants will be able to re-download any electronic documents that were lost during the process. (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
4. Military conscripts requesting permission for short-term trips abroad may apply for immediate approval online. (MOI)
5. Information on people completing military service will be transmitted digitally so that they need not report to their local district or city offices after discharge. (MOI)
6. Payment verification procedures will be streamlined for government subsidies, beginning with social welfare subsidies. (National Development Council)