Taiwan to Halt Pension Cuts, Reversing Key Tsai-Era Reform Amid Criticism

Taiwan's government has decided to implement a recently passed law that halts pension cuts for retired civil servants and teachers. The Executive Yuan and Examination Yuan confirmed the decision, and back payments are being processed.

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President Tsai took three steps forward, and President Lai has taken one step back.

This move reverses a significant policy achievement of former President Tsai Ing-wen's administration. Luo Cheng-tsung, a law professor and chairman of the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, strongly criticized the decision. He stated that Tsai Ing-wen took three steps forward with pension reform over her eight years, but the current administration under President Lai Ching-te has taken one step back.

Luo argued that the government should have used its power to refuse to implement the law, similar to how it can oppose other unfavorable legislation passed by the blue and white parties. He questioned who made this major decision and suggested the Examination Yuan might be used as a scapegoat. Luo believes the government is prioritizing short-term electoral gains over the ideals of the pension reform, betraying the efforts of the previous administration.

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The government is prioritizing short-term electoral gains over the ideals of the pension reform.

He also dismissed the government's claim of waiting for a constitutional court ruling, calling it a delaying tactic and "playing a fake game." Luo emphasized that abandoning the pension reform means all previous hard work is wasted and the reform cannot be easily reinstated. He lamented that the government is sacrificing its political ideals for popularity and votes, questioning if this aligns with any meaningful political vision.

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If the pension reform is abandoned, it will be irreversible.