President Tsai touts progress in tackling salary stagnation, pension reform

2018/05/16

President Tsai Ing-wen said May 14 that the government is tackling salary stagnation among Taiwan’s younger generations through comprehensive measures such as raising public sector wages and reducing financial burdens on families.
 
 Policies including taxation reform, the promotion of affordable and social housing, and the lowering of child care costs are delivering concrete solutions to the problems faced by young people, Tsai said. High-quality private sector jobs are also being created under the five-plus-two innovative industries initiative, she added.
 
 According to the president, this economic revitalization program targeting biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development, is helping attract R&D centers to Taiwan and foster employment opportunities in cutting-edge fields. Industrial transformation policies are already bearing fruit, with economic growth rising from 1.5 percent in 2016 to 2.8 percent last year, she said.
 
 Tsai made the remarks in a radio interview ahead of the two-year anniversary of her inauguration May 20. In the hourlong discussion, the president addressed a range of issues spanning economic development, pension reform and cross-strait relations.
 
 The president said that restructuring of the nation’s retirement entitlements is necessary to ensure long-term financial sustainability. While reform can be painful, the government must take responsible steps to prevent system bankruptcy and protect social stability, she added.
 
 On the cross-strait front, Tsai reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining peaceful, stable relations. While many communication channels exist, including nongovernmental platforms, direct talks between Taipei and Beijing are needed to advance ties, she said.
 
 A meeting took place in 1992 between Taipei and Beijing, with the results interpreted differently by the two sides, Tsai said, adding that her acknowledgement of this fact is made in good faith and an expression of goodwill.
 
 According to the president, mainland China must recognize that Taiwan is a democratic society where various beliefs can be freely expressed before a consensus is reached. In line with regional developments such as the inter-Korean summit staged late last month, Beijing should demonstrate its willingness to engage in constructive cross-strait dialogue on the basis of reciprocity without political preconditions, she said.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=134369)