Taiwan People's Party Strongly Urges No Delay in National Pension Reform

The Legislative Yuan is scheduled to convene a cross-party caucus negotiation on the morning of the 13th, with President Han Guo-ying presiding, to address the amendment draft of the National Health Insurance Act. This legislative process, which significantly impacts the rights and interests of numerous citizens, has drawn significant attention. On the 6th, the Taiwan People’s Party caucus in the Legislative Yuan issued a public appeal, emphasizing that the relevant amendments have not yet completed the third reading, and that the associated supplementary budget bill remains under review in the Legislative Yuan. The caucus stated that the public should not attribute the delay in the budget to the opposition’s failure to exercise proper oversight. They sternly urged the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus to cease delaying the amendment schedule for any reason, ensuring that the bill, which concerns the economic security and social welfare of the people, is placed on the agenda and passed as swiftly as possible.

The upcoming cross-party negotiation on the 13th involves critical adjustments to the National Health Insurance system, a vital component of the country’s social safety net. Since its inception, the National Health Insurance has served as a crucial economic safeguard for citizens who are not covered by other insurance schemes, such as those for military, government, labor, and agricultural sectors, encompassing vulnerable groups including housewives, gig workers, and unemployed laborers. However, with continuous domestic inflationary pressure and rising price indices, current benefit standards and related financial mechanisms have gradually failed to meet the actual living needs of the public. Consequently, calls for amending the National Health Insurance Act have been persistent across various sectors of society and within the legislature. While the ruling and opposition parties share a basic consensus in principle on how to better secure the elderly and economic security of citizens, significant political considerations and administrative stances often diverge regarding specific amendment clauses, funding sources, and budgetary timelines.

The Taiwan People’s Party caucus’s decision to hold a press conference and issue a strong appeal was primarily a response to recent criticisms from certain media outlets and the ruling party camp regarding the review progress of the general budget and related supplementary budgets. The caucus pointed out that the opposition parties have strictly scrutinized the relevant budgets and bills, acting in the interest of taxpayers, rather than intentionally obstructing or boycotting the process. They emphasized that the primary reasons for the delayed passage of the National Health Insurance Act amendment draft and the ongoing review of the supplementary budget bill between legislative committees and caucuses lie in the executive branch’s insufficient planning and communication, as well as suspected delays in the ruling party’s legislative scheduling and coordination. Therefore, the caucus urged the DPP not to claim in policy promotion that it cares for the vulnerable while simultaneously allowing progress to stall in actual legislative reviews and cross-party negotiations, thereby creating a deadlock.

From a macro political and socio-economic perspective, the amendment of the National Health Insurance Act and the budget review are not merely legislative maneuvers in the Legislative Yuan but directly affect the substantive rights of millions of insured individuals in Taiwan. As the country rapidly transitions into a super-aged society, ensuring the basic dignity of the elderly and the financial sustainability of the social welfare system are historical responsibilities that no political party can avoid. In recent times, legislative caucuses have often found themselves in high-level confrontation over major bills, resulting in slow progress on legislation related to people’s livelihood and national welfare. With President Han Guo-ying personally convening the cross-party negotiation, there is widespread expectation that this will serve as an opportunity to break the deadlock, allowing the ruling and opposition parties to engage in rational communication, discard unnecessary political rhetoric, and reach concrete consensus on the core clauses of the National Health Insurance Act amendment draft.

As the date for the 13th cross-party negotiation approaches, the political atmosphere within the Legislative Yuan is heating up. The stance taken by the Taiwan People’s Party caucus clearly signals to the ruling party that the DPP must demonstrate substantive legislative sincerity by cooperating with scheduling and accelerating the review process. However, whether the bill will successfully pass its third reading depends not only on the atmosphere of the 13th negotiation but also on the voting intentions and room for political compromise among the various parties in subsequent plenary sessions. This legislative battle tests the legislative leadership of the majority party in the legislature, as well as the strength and wisdom of the opposition in overseeing government administration. All sectors are closely watching whether this critical bill, which safeguards the retirement security of countless grassroots citizens, will see clarity through this cross-party negotiation, writing a more complete chapter for Taiwan’s social welfare system.

(Source: Central News Agency)