TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) voiced his support on Wednesday (Jan. 8) for the recent legislative amendment to increase the retirement income replacement rate for police and other public safety personnel. The Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) ) passed the third reading of the amendment to Article 35 of the "Police Personnel Management Act" (警察人員人事條例) on Tuesday, raising the maximum retirement income replacement rate to 80% for police, firefighters, coast guard, immigration, and air service personnel.
Yet, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) expressed strong opposition, citing legal concerns and financial implications and stating that implementation would be difficult. Hou, a former police officer with over 30 years of experience, emphasized the high-pressure and high-risk nature of police work and urged the government to provide better care for these public servants. He argued that police officers dedicate their lives to safeguarding public safety and deserve additional support upon retirement.
Hou noted the significant decrease in public service applicants, often with fewer candidates than vacancies, and called for a comprehensive review to attract more talented individuals to public service roles. He expressed hopes that this will enhance national development and security. The amendment specifies that personnel with 15 years of service will have a replacement rate of 43.25%, increasing to 80% after 36 years.
Estimates suggest 80% of retired grassroots police officers could receive a monthly pension of NT$74,544. Premier Cho criticized the amendment for creating a financial gap without consulting the Executive Yuan or identifying funding sources, deeming it a severe legal violation.