Page Three

Bill to raise cop, firefighter salaries passes

Taipei Times
Date: May 30, 2018
By: Sean Lin  /  Staff reporter

Proposed amendments to the Police Personnel Management Act (警察人員人事條例), which would grant entry-level police, firefighters and coast guard personnel a monthly raise of NT$1,370, yesterday cleared the legislative floor.

The salary hike was proposed in recognition of the laborious and dangerous nature of the their work, as well as the work of more than 28,000 of the nation’s approximately 64,000 police and firefighters who cannot be promoted under the current system, Minister of the Interior Yeh Jiunn-rong (葉俊榮) said.

The amendment raised the ceiling on seniority payments for fourth-tier — or entry-level — officers, firefighters and coast guard personnel, which would translate into an increase of NT$1,370 per month in seniority pay and about NT$1,600 in pension funds, allowing them to receive an additional NT$19,000 each year after retirement, the ministry said.

Civil servants’ salaries are composed of basic pay, seniority pay and a professional allowance.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Provincial Government Being Sidelined

The Taiwan Provincial Government is being sidelined.

ICRT Radio News
Date: 2018-05-28

Public Construction Commission Minister Wu Tse-Cheng, who doubles as the head
of the TPG, says the organization’s responsibilities are currently being
allocated to other government agencies.

This process is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Wu says this means the TPG’s budget for 2019 will be able to be completely
eliminated.

Meanwhile, the Fujian Provincial Government has also seen most of its duties
handed over to other bodies.

Instead, it is now operating primarily as a service center for the residents
of Jinmen and Matsu, with the provincial government’s budget being spent on
the center’s operations.    [SOURCE]

Taiwan to have stricter restrictions on visiting Chinese officials

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-05-28

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said on Thursday that it will have stricter restrictions

Deputy MAC Minister Chiu Chui-Cheng made the statement Monday. (CNA photo)

for visiting Chinese officials. That’s in light of the recent break in diplomatic ties with Burkina Faso and other unfriendly moves by China.

Deputy Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-Cheng said the new move is due to national security concerns, China’s recent military moves, and suppression of Taiwan on the international scene. Chiu said the stricter screening only applied to government officials and related personnel.

“We will not tighten [quotas] for tourists, students coming to study, professionals or businesspeople. We will maintain our current system,” said Chiu.

Chiu said that the tighter screening will be for government delegations and those that might engage in illegal behavior.    [SOURCE]

Taipei City implements heat wave response plans

When forecast expects temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or with thermometers staying at 37 degrees for three days straight, an internal alert mechanism will be activated, notifying responsible agencies to take actions, the DEP said

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/05/28
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–With temperature reaching 38 degrees Celsius on May 27–

(By Wikimedia Commons)

marking the hottest day of the year so far and the hottest May on record–Taipei’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued the first heat wave warning for 2018 on May 27, calling for relevant municipal agencies to take steps against hot weather.

When forecast expects temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or with thermometers staying at 37 degrees for three days straight, an internal alert mechanism will be activated, notifying responsible agencies to take actions, the DEP said.

Possible responses may consist of the following measures: the DEP will start spraying water on streets to counter heat and urban heat island effects; the Department of Labor will conduct labor inspections at outdoor working environments; and outreach program for live-alone senior residents will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan condemns Beijing for jeopardizing universal values

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/05/28
By: Ku Chuan and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday denounced Beijing’s latest attempt to belittle Taiwan in the global air transport sector as “rude and unreasonable” and said China was guilty of jeopardizing universal values.

In a statement, the ministry said China recently delivered a letter to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 280 of the world’s airlines, and its members to pressure them into belittling Taiwan’s designation on their official website.

Taiwan has instructed its relevant overseas offices to make contact with IATA and the airlines concerned and convey to them Taiwan’s unwavering stance of defending its national designation and national dignity, the ministry said.    [FULL  STORY]

Trade unions urge their inclusion in inspections

GREATER OVERVIEW: While industrial and trade unions have 2.8 million members, just 58,000 people are members of their companies’ unions

Taipei Times
Date: May 29, 2018
By: Ann Maxon  /  Staff reporter

A coalition of unions yesterday protested outside the Ministry of Labor in Taipei to

Members from a coalition of industrial and trade unions yesterday protest outside the Ministry of Labor in Taipei to demand that the ministry include non-company union representatives in labor inspections.  Photo: CNA

demand that it include industrial and trade union members in labor inspections.

The protest was organized by a dozen unions, including the Taiwan Higher Education Union, the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC) Labor Union and the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union.

At present, before conducting labor inspections at a company, authorities must invite members of the company’s union to take part, but not those in industrial and trade unions, the groups said in a statement.

Only 58,000 Taiwanese are members of their companies’ unions, which account for just 5.4 percent of the nation’s workers, they said.    [FULL  STORY]

Ministry drafts regulations to implement patient autonomy act

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/05/27
By: Chen Wei-ting and Elizabeth Hs

Taipei, May 27 (CNA) The Ministry of Health and Welfare has drafted regulations

Image taken from Pixabay

for the implementation of a new law that stipulates respect for patient autonomy in healthcare, including clear definitions of patient rights to the termination of life-sustaining treatments, as well as artificial nutrition and hydration.

The draft regulations, which the ministry said will be published in the near future, were prepared for the implementation of the new Patient Right to Autonomy Act, which is set to become effective on Jan. 6, 2019.

Under the act, which was touted as the first of its kind in Asia, patients in five clinical conditions who have made an advance decision in healthcare, may have medical institutions or physicians partially or fully terminate, withdraw, or withhold life-sustaining treatments, artificial nutrition and hydration in accordance with the advance decision.    [FULL  STORY]

Hottest May Day on Record

Formosa News
Date: 2018/05/27

Taipei’s temperature today broke all records, becoming the hottest May day in 122 years. At 11.17am, the temperature shot up to a blistering 38.2 degrees Celsius. This broke a 1991 record of 37.7 degrees. Records were also shattered in Taichung and Banqiao.

The New Taipei City Government dispatched trucks with sprinkler systems to give relief to pedestrians. The Central Weather Bureau says that temperatures across Taiwan will be slightly lower starting tomorrow owing to the weakening of the Pacific high pressure system over the island, and the approach of a weather front — but they will still stay within the range of 33 to 35 degrees.     [SOURCE]

Government seeking correction of Taiwan designation on Canadian bank’s site

ICRT Radio News
Date: 2018-05-28

The foreign ministry says it has asked the Royal Bank of Canada to correct
Taiwan’s designation on its website, which was recently listed as a “province
of China.”

According to a report by the Star Vancouver, Royal Bank of Canada customers
who wish to wire payments to Taiwan will now find it listed as a “province of
China” on its website.

The website used to list Taiwan as “Taiwan” in its “country” category.

But recently the designation has been changed into Taiwan (Province of China).
[FULL  STORY]

Taipei City unveils first welfare facilities at public housing complex

Mayor Ko Wen-je inaugurated a senior citizen service and daycare center and a child daycare center which are housed inside the Jiankang Public Housing complex on May 24

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/05/27
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je inaugurated a senior citizen

Courtesy of Taipei City Government

service and daycare center and a child daycare center which are housed inside the Jiankang Public Housing complex on May 24.

Ko said this is the city’s first project incorporating welfare facilities into a public housing community, adding that the project is also the result of collaboration between the Department of Urban Development and the Department of Social Welfare.

Securing a location for social welfare facilities has always been a challenge, so Taipei City Government adopts a new practice where spaces on lower levels of public housing complexes can be allocated as venues for child day care, senior care, and community activities.    [FULL  STORY]