Executive Yuan includes police and firefighter pay raises in fairness report

Executive Yuan Premier Zhuo Rong-tai stated during a press conference today that adjustments to the salaries and benefits of military, police, and fire service personnel must balance "equity" with "institutional legitimacy." He noted that the Executive Yuan has included "concrete actions for strengthening the protection of military, civil service, and education personnel" in a report submitted to the Legislative Yuan to explain future policy directions. Zhuo emphasized that revisions to relevant bills must remain flexible until the results of the constitutional interpretation are announced, in order to avoid institutional conflicts arising from changes in constitutional interpretation. His remarks address growing societal concerns over pay disparities among military, police, and fire service personnel in recent years, particularly public expectations for equal pay for equal work and compensation for job-related risks.

Since the 1990s, the salary structures for military, police, and fire service personnel have been adjusted multiple times. However, due to differences in budget allocations between the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of the Interior, as well as varying financial burdens among local governments at different levels, significant income gaps persist among personnel of equivalent ranks in these sectors. In recent years, judicial interpretations and cases decided by the Constitutional Court, particularly rulings concerning the "right to equality" and "compensation for job-related risks," have required the government to ensure that new policies do not violate the constitutional principle of equality. The constitutional interpretation referenced by Premier Zhuo pertains to the recent review of the constitutionality of relevant provisions in the Conscription Act and the Police Duty Behavior Act. If the court determines that current regulations may be unconstitutional, legislative amendments will be required simultaneously.

In this context, the report submitted by the Executive Yuan to the Legislative Yuan lists specific measures, including adjustments to the base salaries of military, police, and fire service personnel, increases in hazard allowances, and improvements to the retirement pension system. The report also explains that if the constitutional interpretation confirms the constitutionality of the current system and consensus is reached among stakeholders on the adjustment plan, the Executive Yuan will directly propose legislative amendments based on the report's content, aiming to complete the legislative process within the new fiscal year. This approach aims to shorten the time for policy implementation and prevent long-term legislative delays from affecting the quality of life and work motivation of frontline personnel.

However, the path to legislative amendment faces multiple considerations. First, there is the issue of budget allocation by the fiscal department. Improving the compensation for military, police, and fire service personnel will inevitably involve the reallocation of national defense and internal affairs budgets. If not properly coordinated, this could lead to the compression of resources in other public service sectors. Second, at the local government implementation level, most fire service personnel are part of local staffing. The financial sharing mechanism between the central and local governments needs to be redesigned to ensure the consistency and implementation of the policy. Finally, civil society groups and labor organizations still have differing views on the definition of "equity." Some argue that risk level should be the primary indicator, while others emphasize a comprehensive assessment of service tenure and workload. If these opinions are not incorporated into legislative discussions, controversies may still arise during future implementation.

Overall, Zhuo Rong-tai's statements indicate that the government has established a preliminary policy framework regarding the compensation of military, police, and fire service personnel, with the constitutional interpretation serving as the final legal hurdle. If the constitutional interpretation yields clear results and stakeholders can reach a consensus in a short period, the speed and effectiveness of legislative amendments will significantly improve, having positive implications for enhancing the job satisfaction of frontline military, police, and fire service personnel, as well as strengthening the national defense and public safety systems. Conversely, if the constitutional interpretation results in uncertainty or if societal consensus is divided, the legislative amendment process will have to be postponed, and the specific measures in the report may need to be re-examined. Future policy directions will be influenced by the interplay of legal, fiscal, and social factors, warranting continued attention.

(Source: Central News Agency)