[Politics] Next Year's General Budget Includes Salary Increases for Military, Civil Servants, and Teachers; Benefits for Retired Police and Firefighters Proposed by Blue-White Parties Not Included
RtiTalk 小編1d ago
The Executive Yuan approved the central government's general budget for the upcoming year on the 20th. It includes a 4% salary increase for military, civil servants, and teachers, along with higher professional allowances, supervisory position allowances, and various duty allowances for military personnel, police, and firefighters, to strengthen their income security. For retired military, civil servants, and teachers, an adjustment of 5.89% based on the cumulative increase in the consumer price index announced in May this year will be calculated.
According to the Directorate-General of Personnel, Executive Yuan, the armed forces have adjusted various allowances in phases in recent years. Starting April 2025, the duty allowance for volunteer soldiers will be increased, and allowances for first and second-class combat units, aviation and maritime control, electronic reconnaissance, and cyber warfare will be gradually increased. Since February this year, drone units have also been included in the scope of combat unit allowances. In July this year, an additional NT$4,000 was added to the allowance for third-class combat units, and it is planned for conscripted officers and soldiers serving in combat units to receive the same benefits as volunteer soldiers.
The Directorate-General of Personnel stated that with the general 4% salary increase next year, for example, a private first-class infantry soldier's monthly salary will increase from NT$38,625 in 2016 to NT$57,330 in 2027, an increase of 48.43%. A lieutenant colonel company commander's salary will increase from NT$75,390 to NT$100,360, an increase of 33.12%.
Regarding police and firefighters, the Directorate-General of Personnel pointed out that since March this year, the heavy duty allowance multiplier, criminal investigation allowance, and hazardous duty allowance for firefighters have been increased, and the scope of work bonuses and late-night hazardous duty allowances for police and firefighters has been expanded. With the general 4% salary increase next year, for example, a police officer at the third rank of inspector and station chief's monthly salary will increase from NT$65,410 in 2016 to NT$86,480 in 2027, an increase of 32.21%. A police sergeant at the third rank will see their salary increase from NT$46,510 to NT$61,750, an increase of 32.77%.
During the review of the general budget this year, the Blue and White parties demanded a NT$30,000 salary increase for volunteer soldiers and, in accordance with the "Police Personnel Act" passed by the Legislative Yuan in early 2025, an increase in the upper limit of the retirement income replacement ratio to 80% for retired police, firefighters, coast guard, immigration, and aerial police units personnel, retroactive to already retired individuals.
Premier Cho Jung-tai responded that the Legislative Yuan's cross-party consultation on April 15th requested the Executive Yuan to propose measures to protect military, civil servants, and teachers within six months. The Executive Yuan will formally submit these measures to the Legislative Yuan by October 15th, including the military salary increases already implemented by the government and various allowances for active police and firefighters. He emphasized that military personnel and police/firefighters bear the responsibility for national security and social order, and the government will prioritize their rights and interests.
Regarding the Blue-White parties' proposals on police and firefighter benefits and retirement income replacement ratios, he pointed out that the Executive Yuan believes the relevant legislative amendments involve unconstitutional doubts regarding increased government expenditure. Therefore, the budget was not allocated according to the amendments, and a constitutional interpretation and temporary injunction were requested from the Constitutional Court. He stressed that since the Executive Yuan has submitted the relevant amendments to the Constitutional Court, it should await the constitutional ruling. If deemed unconstitutional, the Executive Yuan has no reason to implement it. If deemed constitutional, the government will allocate the budget, and it has previously promised to implement it retroactively to the beginning of this year.
Cho Jung-tai stated that the Constitutional Court has not yet made a ruling. The government is also considering the re-calculation of the retirement system by the Examination Yuan. If a consistent standard can be adopted, the retirement income replacement ratio could be set at 69%, which is a basis for discussion.
Deputy Minister of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan, Chang Chiu-yuan, added that retired personnel will initially be calculated with a 5.89% increase based on the cumulative CPI increase announced in May this year. The adjustment standard is based on a cumulative annual CPI increase exceeding 5% and adjustments every four years. Currently, funds are allocated based on estimated values. Chang Chiu-yuan said that once the actual annual CPI increase is announced by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the Directorate-General of Personnel will coordinate with the Examination Yuan, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Education to initiate relevant procedures. (Editor: Song Wanyuan)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=227344
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