Taiwan's Educators Urge Halt to Pension Cuts and Call for Full Fund Replenishment

Teachers' Union Advocates for Fairer Retirement Benefits Amidst Legislative Review of Pension Regulations

The Legislative Yuan's Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee is set to review the regulations governing the retirement benefits for civil servants and teachers. The National Federation of Teachers' Unions (全教產) has voiced strong concerns, stating that the dignity and welfare of educators have been significantly undermined by past pension reforms and amendments to the Teachers' Act. The union is calling for an immediate cessation of the annual 1.5% reduction in retirement pensions. Instead, they propose that the government allocate funds year by year to address the deficit in the retirement fund. Furthermore, they advocate for retirement pensions to be adjusted accurately based on the cumulative growth rate of the consumer price index, thereby safeguarding the rights and interests of teachers.

During a press conference, the National Federation of Teachers' Unions highlighted that in the first year following the pension reforms, the pension income replacement ratio was reduced by 20% per individual. Additionally, due to the provision that the "pension income replacement ratio is further reduced by 1.5% every year on January 1st," a total reduction of 9% has occurred between 2018 and 2025. The union also pointed out that under the revised laws, the calculation for military, civil servants, and teachers uses the average salary of the 15 years prior to retirement as the base. This has resulted in an overall reduction in the income replacement ratio exceeding 30%.