TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) announced on Thursday (Nov. 21) that Minister J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) directed department heads, not rank-and-file employees, to submit data within deadlines, without any change to their evaluation grades. The ministry addressed this clarification after media reports suggested that Kuo mandated penalties for late submissions to legislative requests, sparking controversy.
Media reports had claimed that leaked screenshots from a group chat indicated Kuo set submission deadlines for data requested by the Legislative Yuan. These reports alleged that if deadlines were missed without approval, the departments would receive a lower grade in evaluation, with responsibility pursued.
The MOEA responded soon after, stating that while deadlines exist for legislative requests, the interpretation of a mandatory lower-grade evaluation is a misunderstanding. The ministry emphasized its respect for legislative oversight and its commitment to safeguarding employees' rights. It reiterated that Kuo's instructions targeted department heads and advised that if employees face difficulties, they should seek assistance from parliamentary staff to negotiate deadline extensions.