TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (立法院) passed the "Active Generation Promotion Act" (壯世代促進法) on Tuesday (Jan. 7), aiming to tackle the nation's aging population through industrial development. Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Legislator Wu Chun-cheng (吳春城) championed the legislation, which defines the "active generation" (狀世代) as citizens over 55 who are willing and able to work. The government must issue a national white paper on this demographic within two years.
Wu highlighted Taiwan's population aging issue, noting that over 8 million citizens are 55 or older. He emphasized that the emergence of the active generation will spearhead a positive social movement amid global aging challenges. Wu described the act as having five major characteristics: cross-societal, cross-party, cross-department, cross-discipline, and cross-generational. All of these aim to address aging through industrial means.
Wu stated that both public and private sectors must align with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (經濟部) industry recognition, the Financial Supervisory Commission's (金管會) financial measures, and the National Science and Technology Council's (國科會) tech plans to support this demographic. He also mentioned the need for collaboration among various ministries, including Labor, Digital Affairs, Health and Welfare, Education, Sports, Culture, and the National Development Council (國發會), to advance active generation policies.
Wu pointed out that Taiwan's population has increased by nearly 10 million in the past 50 years but will decrease by the same amount in the next 50 years, creating an inverted pyramid society requiring comprehensive legal and institutional updates. He urged committee legislators to collaborate on diverse issues to forge a new social model for Taiwan and contribute globally.