TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday (Dec. 19) emphasized the Employment Security Fund's (就業安定基金) crucial role in supporting middle-aged and older workers' employment. The minister's statement came after the Legislative Yuan's (立法院) Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (立法院衛環委會) suspended the fund's budget.
Hung stated that the Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) would work hard to communicate with legislators to gain support. He noted the fund's importance in assisting unemployed workers, those with disabilities, and older workers while supporting employment service centers and vocational training facilities. The fund recently came under scrutiny for alleged misuse, including purchasing coffee beans, conducting waste removal, and spending over NT$20 million on conference room renovations.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔) proposed the suspension, demanding the MOL submit a review report and cross-check it with the National Audit Office's (審計部) findings. The committee agreed to delay processing the fund's budget until these conditions are met.
Hung also addressed staffing issues within the Workforce Development Agency (勞動力發展署), highlighting the ongoing recruitment of 50 personnel approved by the Executive Yuan's Directorate-general of Personnel Administration (行政院人事總處) in 2022. He expressed a desire for broader improvement plans.
