Ex-police, firefighters lodge suit against gov't amid pension dispute

Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) More than 2,000 retired police officers and firefighters filed a class action lawsuit against the government Thursday after the Cabinet declined to earmark funds for a pension increase mandated by legislation passed by the Legislature.

The suit, to be reviewed by the Taipei High Administrative Court, names the Cabinet, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Civil Service as defendants. It alleges the agencies failed to allocate funding for the pension increase for retired police officers and firefighters in accordance with amendments passed by opposition lawmakers in January last year and signed into law by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

Citing constitutional concerns over legislative measures that increase government spending, the Cabinet has refused to implement the pension increase and has petitioned the Constitutional Court for a provisional injunction and constitutional interpretation. Both petitions remain pending.

At a news conference outside the court, Hsieh Ching-hsu (謝景旭), former deputy head of the National Fire Agency, said the lawsuit demonstrated retirees' determination to oppose what he called "unfair reforms" and their trust in justice and the rule of law.

Ensuring that retired police officers and firefighters receive the benefits they deserve and enjoy a reasonable, stable and dignified retirement is a responsibility the Lai administration cannot shirk, Hsieh said.

Former police officer Keng Chi-wen (耿繼文), head of a coalition of retired police associations, cited the Cabinet's plan to draft a proposal to raise pensions for retired farmers, accusing the government of applying a "double standard" and urging it to allocate funds for the police and firefighter pension increase as required by law.

Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), who attended the event, criticized Lai for failing to implement the pension increase, accusing the president of flouting the law.

In response, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said the government has taken "good care" of civil servants, including retired police officers and firefighters, citing across-the-board pay raises totaling 14.7 percent between 2018 and 2025.

She added, however, that the Legislature had exceeded its authority by formulating the pension increase.

"We respect the right of members of the public to seek judicial remedies, but we must also stress that the Legislature's role is to review the budget, not to draft it," Lee said.

If the Constitutional Court determines that the pension increase does not violate the Constitution, the Cabinet will promptly make the necessary adjustments and issue retroactive payments to protect the rights and interests of affected personnel, she said.