TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A Taipei City councilor of the Kuomintang (KMT) raised concerns over the decision-making of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an on Monday (Nov. 20), arguing against the Taipei Youth Bureau for overextending its services to individual classified as "youth."
In a city council meeting, Mayor Chiang provided an update on the Youth Bureau's development, announcing plans to establish divisions for International Development and Career Development, among others. The bureau aims to cater to individuals aged 15 to 45.
City Councilor Yu Shu-hui questioned this broad age range for defining youth, suggesting that it dilutes resources across nearly a million people. She highlighted that under the current definition, even Mayor Chiang would qualify as a youth.
Yu advocated for a narrower age bracket for youth, proposing 15-24 years, aligning with the Work Force Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor's definition of 15-29 years. She emphasized that the Youth Bureau should have more focused definitions and plans due to limited resources.
Responding to these concerns, Mayor Chiang explained that the age limit was extended to 45 to include individuals who start businesses in their 40s. Yu, however, suggested that those over 40 could be accommodated by the Economic Development Department, arguing that expanding the Youth Bureau's scope contradicts the conventional understanding of "youth."
Mayor Chiang acknowledged these points and committed to reassessing the Youth Bureau's scope and services.