Singer Slams Performers' Union Over Veteran Artist's Poverty

Veteran Taiwanese entertainer Tien Lu-lu, 68, has recently garnered attention for her health issues and precarious financial situation. Reports revealed she lives alone in Taichung, qualifies for low-income support, and has been suffering from a gastrointestinal illness for two weeks. The situation reportedly became so dire that she resorted to cutting up old clothes to use as toilet paper due to a lack of funds.

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The problem she faces has actually given rise to another issue that deserves more attention from the public: Taiwan's Performers' Union, under the guise of caring for veteran artists, collects thousands of membership fees annually and frequently applies for funding from the Ministry of Culture under the pretext of organizing events. In reality, it does not truly care for veteran artists in need, allowing them to fend for themselves.

Following these revelations, veteran singer Chiou Chiu-mei took to Facebook to voice strong criticism against the Performers' Union. Chiou questioned the union's purpose and effectiveness, stating that despite collecting thousands of membership fees annually and receiving funding from the Ministry of Culture for events, it has failed to provide genuine support to veteran artists in need, leaving them to fend for themselves.

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Entertainers, to put it nicely, are stars. In reality, they are a vulnerable group that has never been protected by the government or the Performers' Union. They have no retirement pensions, only meager labor insurance retirement annuities. This is because the Performers' Union insures its members based on the minimum labor insurance base, so the pensions retired entertainers receive are insufficient to guarantee a basic retirement life.

Chiou highlighted that entertainers, despite their public profiles, are a vulnerable group lacking government or union protection. She pointed out that many receive only minimal labor insurance pensions, insufficient for a basic retirement. Chiou directly challenged the union's chairperson, Tsao Yu-ting, asking where the substantial membership fees go and whom the union has actually assisted. She also expressed dismay that the union allegedly pressures former members to continue paying dues.

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Performers' Union Chairperson Tsao Yu-ting: Where has all the money from the thousands of members' annual fees gone? Where has it gone, and whom have you ever taken care of?

Reflecting on her own experience, Chiou mentioned she withdrew from the union years ago and has secured her own financial future. She lamented that many retired entertainers, not just Tien Lu-lu, face hardship not because they squandered their earnings, but due to a lack of consistent performance opportunities and inadequate retirement provisions. Chiou concluded by criticizing the annual celebratory gatherings for performers, calling the promises of support from officials empty and short-lived.

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It is truly baffling. I am fortunate; I woke up early! I quit the union many years ago, so when I retire, I will have enough for basic living expenses because I insured myself at the highest level.