DPP says most people oppose 'unfair' opposition pension proposals

Taipei, Nov. 5 (CNA) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus said Wednesday that a recent survey shows a majority opposes "unfair" opposition efforts to end annual cuts to civil servant pensions.

At a news conference, DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) said the survey, conducted by the party headquarters, found that 59.7 percent of respondents supported continuing pension reforms initiated by the DPP in 2016, while only 31.7 percent thought they should be stopped.

Since 2020, civil servants in Taiwan have been subject to 1.5 percent annual income replacement ratio cuts, which are slated to continue through to 2029, cutting the ratio by 15 percent.

However, last month, the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) submitted a series of bills that would end much of the DPP's reforms.

In addition to stopping annual cuts, the opposition proposals would require civil servant pensions to be adjusted for inflation.

Wu said that the DPP caucus believes that stopping reforms would exacerbate inequality between active and retired workers, civil servants and workers receiving labor, farmer and national pensions.

Furthermore, she said, the resultant pension fund shortfalls will be shouldered by the entire citizenry, which is also "unfair."

On Saturday, the KMT legislative caucus said that it had placed the bills at the top of its priority for the current legislative session.

The opposition party called on the government to "take responsibility" for supporting the retirement benefits of military personnel, civil servants, and teachers, especially amid soaring prices and the impact of U.S. tariffs.