Government 結果共524筆

Stay updated on the latest news from Taipei City Government’s Department of Health regarding the expansion of free senior health checks in 2024. Online registration for special groups of elderly citizens begins on Feb. 22, with additional scheduling available on March 4. Director Chen Yen-yuan introduces a redesigned health check-up regimen, including new packages for bone density and muscle strength. Take advantage of services offered by 61 health care institutions and subsidized preventive health services for citizens aged 65 and over.

Explore Taiwan’s innovative approach to kindergarten education with quasi-public schools. Discover how the government’s efforts to provide affordable education are facing scrutiny and the debate over stricter regulations to ensure quality.

Hsinchu County Government announces a monthly wage subsidy of NT＄10,000 for bus drivers on its routes from January to December 2024. The decision aims to address challenges faced by urban bus operations in Taiwan and reduce employee turnover. The subsidy is intended to help recruit talent and ensure the rights of citizens using public transport. Hsinchu County hopes to alleviate the severe shortage of workers in the public bus industry through this measure. The subsidy will be reviewed every three months.

President Tsai Ing-wen highlights the success of Taiwan’s investment incentives projects, which have attracted over NT$2.17 trillion in investments and created over 140,000 jobs. Speaking at a Lunar New Year event, Tsai emphasizes the importance of Taiwanese businesses in driving economic development and emphasizes Taiwan’s global reach and reliability as an international partner. She also discusses Taiwan’s efforts to improve infrastructure and expand external relations, including trade cooperation with the U.S. and U.K. Tsai calls for the preservation of the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait and expresses a commitment to upholding democracy and seeking cross-strait dialogues. The event was attended by government officials and over 300 Taiwanese businessmen living and working in China.

Honduras owes Taiwan approximately US＄440 million (NT＄13.8 billion) in debt, which has accumulated over several years and remains unpaid even after severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China. The decision to end over eight decades of relations with Taiwan and establish diplomatic ties with China was made on March 25, 2023. The current president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, did not borrow any additional funds from Taiwan, with the last loan of US＄300 million being acquired by her predecessor, Juan Orlando Hernández, in 2019. These funds were primarily used for housing reconstruction, school facilities, and nutritional lunches. Honduras hoped that establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing would result in greater economic support and loans from the Chinese government. However, the country’s white shrimp exports were affected following the diplomatic break with Taiwan. As a result, Honduras has turned to China for similar tariff preferences.

Taiwan’s Executive Yuan has announced that no detection of Cimbuterol, a feed additive used to promote leanness in animals, has been found in domestically-produced pork. This preliminary result dismisses concerns about the domestic pork supply being tainted with the substance. In the past, Taiwan Sugar Corporation’s pork slices were found to contain Cimbuterol, causing public concern. The Ministry of Agriculture has inspected 633 pre-market samples, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare has tested 73 post-market samples, with only one sample in Taichung city detecting Cimbuterol. The Health Ministry will strengthen random inspections for ractopamine in pork products and increase the number of annual inspections. The government will also enhance scrutiny of Cimbuterol imports and establish an expert group to assess the risk source at each link. The administration remains committed to ensuring the sanitary safety of pork products and monitoring related residues in various channels. Relevant authorities are dedicated to meeting Taiwan’s veterinary drug residue limits in foods.

Renowned restaurant Din Tai Fung and the Taipei City Government are partnering for a massive recruitment event, offering 150 vacancies with salaries up to NT$57,000. The job fair will take place on Feb. 24 at the Taipei Youth Salon. Over 90% of the positions are open to applicants without prior work experience, as part of Din Tai Fung’s efforts to invest in talent recruitment, salary welfare, and training. The available positions include catering service specialists, cashiers, restaurant tidying staff, pastry apprentices, chefs, dish quality inspectors, dishwashers, and in-store timing staff. Part-time workers can earn up to NT$240 an hour on weekends. Salaries start at NT$48,000 for waitstaff, with the potential to reach NT$55,000 after assessments. Chefs have the opportunity to make up to NT$57,000. The average monthly salary from previous recruitment drives with Din Tai Fung is NT$40,000, and many companies have increased salaries due to labor shortages caused by the pandemic. The catering industry has seen a rising salary trend, with Din Tai Fung increasing salaries by 3% to 6% in 2023, totaling a 16% increase over three years. This recruitment drive is open to talents in Taipei, New Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.

Taipei City Government to increase lunch subsidies for underprivileged high school and vocational students from NT$55 to NT$65 per day in response to rising prices. The expanded subsidy scope now includes first- to third-year specialist college students. Approximately 17,500 students are expected to benefit from this program, with a budget of NT$8.5 million allocated for lunch expenses.

Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je dismisses talk of a blue-white coalition for the 2026 local elections as premature. Speculation suggests that TPP may field eight legislators at-large in the 2026 local government elections. There are rumblings within political circles that TPP’s legislator Huang Shan-shan may run for Taipei mayor, Legislator Huang Kuo-chang for the New Taipei City chief, Legislator Chang Chi-kai for Chiayi City mayor, and Legislator Lin Kuo-cheng for the Pingtung County magistrate race. Ko emphasizes that discussing matters for 2026 is premature in 2024, as there are 22 counties and cities in Taiwan, and the scenario is subject to potential changes. When asked about a possible blue-white collaboration in 2026, Ko deems it too early to discuss.

Explore the challenges facing Lai Ching-te’s administration with a minority in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. Experts weigh in on strategies for effective governance, drawing lessons from past leaders and considering the coalition government as a pathway to overcoming legislative gridlock.

Feastogether, a popular restaurant in Kaohsiung’s Dream Mall, has been temporarily closed for a thorough cleanliness inspection after reports of food poisoning. Several diners who ate at the restaurant last Saturday experienced vomiting and diarrhea. The Kaohsiung City Government’s Department of Health is investigating the source of the contamination. If food safety regulations have been violated, fines exceeding NT＄60,000 could be imposed. The Feastogether Group has pledged to cooperate fully with government food safety policies and assist affected customers.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has announced that its Japan subsidiary, JASM, will construct a second wafer fabrication plant by the end of 2024. The plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2027. With support from the Japanese government, TSMC plans to begin production at its first JASM wafer fabrication plant in 2024, with a total investment exceeding US＄20 billion. The construction of the second plant is driven by increasing customer demand. The expansion aims to optimize JASM’s cost structure and supply chain efficiency, resulting in increased production. Once both plants are operational, JASM’s Kumamoto wafer fabrication plant will have a monthly capacity of over 100,000 12-inch wafers. The Japan fab will offer process technologies ranging from 40nm to 6nm, catering to automotive, industrial, consumer, and high-performance computing applications. TSMC also mentioned that capacity planning can be adjusted based on client requirements. The Kumamoto wafer plant is expected to create more than 3,400 high-tech professional jobs.

Premier Chen Chien-jen calls for central and local governments to ensure food safety in response to the discovery of Cimbuterol, or ＂lean meat powder,＂ in TaiSugar pork. This issue is particularly important as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches. Chen expresses gratitude to the Taichung City Government for re-testing the pork sample and hopes for swift publication of the scientific verification results. The Health Bureau of Taichung City Government previously announced that the level of Cimbuterol in the sampled TaiSugar pork exceeded the limit. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang urges caution in handling the case, while Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen emphasizes the top priority of ensuring food safety and advocates for rigorous and swift measures.

President Tsai Ing-wen met with representatives of the winners of the 2023 Yuan Ye Awards, emphasizing the government’s commitment to collaborating with local governments on vital construction projects. She also encouraged stronger collaboration between private enterprises and the government to drive Taiwan’s architectural progress. The winning projects were praised for showcasing Taiwan’s diverse and robust architectural design, positively impacting the country’s urban-rural scenery. The Yuan Ye Awards, with a nearly 30-year history, recognize Taiwan’s unique architectural products and landscape designs through a rigorous judging process, making it a prestigious honor sought after by county and city governments, as well as private enterprises.

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that no traces of the drug Cimbuterol were found in TaiSugar’s frozen pork slice products. The Taichung City Government previously reported the presence of 0.002ppm of Cimbuterol in pork cuts manufactured by TaiSugar. However, the Ministry of Agriculture disputed this claim, stating that tests on both pig hair from the farm of origin and samples from the same batch of pork products were negative for beta-agonists. Wang Der-yuan, the FDA deputy director, emphasized that Cimbuterol is not approved for use in humans or animals and is primarily used as a standard sample in laboratories. The FDA conducted examinations of three samples of TaiSugar’s pork products using the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s protocol for testing veterinary drug residues, and the results showed no traces of Cimbuterol.

During the Lunar New Year holiday from Feb. 5 to Feb. 14, taxi fares in Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung City will increase by an additional NT$30 per ride. Stickers with clear notices about the fare changes will be placed on the back of co-driver’s seats to inform passengers. Cab drivers are prohibited from refusing passengers or taking longer routes, and passengers have the right to inquire about the chosen route. The Taipei City Government Police Department has a hotline for reporting issues at (02) 2311-6409, or residents can dial 110. Other cities and counties, such as Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Nantou, Changhua, and Kaohsiung, will also adjust their taxi fares, with an extra NT$50 per ride. In Hsinchu and Miaoli, fares will increase by 30% based on the original pricing scheme.

The Taipei City Government has received proposed rental fee standards for the Taipei Dome from the Farglory Group. The Department of Sports confirmed that ticket sales and rental costs for domestic baseball games amounted to NT$525,000, including a 10% ticket sales cut. For non-ticketed events open to the public, venue rent costs rise to NT$1.05 million. The Taipei Dome has established its venue rental pricing standard after three months of trial run and submitted it to the city government. The rental fee will vary based on event types and standards, with utilities calculated separately. Different rates apply to international baseball events, non-baseball events, non-sporting events, and specific events like concerts or exhibitions. Rental costs also differ based on whether the venue is fully opened or not. The Farglory Group has provided the proposed fee standards to the city government for evaluation and a public announcement will be made after discussions.

Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Han Kuo-yu has been elected as the speaker of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, with Johnny Chiang as his deputy. As speaker, Han is responsible for maintaining order in the legislative body and overseeing legislative matters. According to the ＂Act Governing the Discipline of Legislators,＂ Han’s monthly salary is equivalent to that of central government department heads, amounting to NT$346,960, with an additional special remuneration of NT$79,100. Johnny Chiang, as deputy speaker, will earn a monthly salary of approximately NT$229,860. Legislators in Taiwan receive an average monthly salary of about NT$190,500, along with an annual bonus equivalent to 1.5 months’ salary. Han’s role grants him decisive power in the event of tied votes or disputes over legislation, giving him a significant role in shaping future policy.

Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te’s letter expressing sympathy to Japan for the Noto Peninsula earthquake was published in the Hokkoku Newspaper on February 1. Lai’s message, along with a similar one from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, emphasized Taiwan’s willingness to assist in the relief and recovery efforts. Lai mentioned that the Taiwanese government promptly offered aid, including a contribution of 60 million Japanese yen, while private donations from Taiwan have reached 2.5 billion yen. Lai also paid tribute to Yoichi Hatta, an engineer from Ishikawa Prefecture who worked on infrastructure projects in Taiwan, demonstrating the enduring gratitude of the Taiwanese people. The newspaper also featured a photo of Lai’s visit to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in 2011 when he was the mayor of Tainan.

Outgoing Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, expressed confidence that the majority of newly elected parliament members will support diplomatic relations between Tuvalu and Taiwan. Despite failing to regain his position in the recent elections, Natano emphasized his continued support for the relationship between the two countries. He stated that both novice and seasoned politicians, as well as senior MPs, share this sentiment and will likely continue to support the ties with Taiwan. After the elections, the 16 newly-elected members of Parliament will engage in complex negotiations to form different factions, with the faction holding the most members ultimately forming the new government and electing a prime minister.

Experts from the U.S. and Taiwan predict a high likelihood of a Taiwan Strait crisis in 2024, emphasizing the new government and U.S. presidential election as crucial factors. Military capabilities and international relations play key roles in shaping the future of the region.

Premier Chen Chien-jen and Acting Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih inspect the trade of fruit, vegetables, and fisheries products at the Taipei Fish Wholesale Market and the First Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market in Taipei. The Ministry of Agriculture is increasing the supply of these products before the Lunar New Year, with vegetable supply expected to increase by over 38% daily, fruit supply by more than 73% daily, and fish product supply by at least 30% daily.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has approved a comprehensive plan for the Taichung Metro Blue Line and a feasibility study for the Taiwan Railway’s coastline dual-track. The completion of the transit system is estimated to be in 10 years, costing NT＄1615.14 billion, with NT＄675.59 billion borne by the central government. The Blue Line will connect Taichung Port to the city center, serving as the city’s most crucial east-west axis. It will also connect with the Green Line to form a cross-axis network. An agreement on the deployment of the Blue Line’s Shalu Overpass section was reached by the MOTC and Taichung City Government. The completion of the Taichung Metro Blue Line and the Taichung Port rail line’s dual track system is expected to improve the Taichung area’s rail infrastructure and spur balanced development in urban, rural, and coastal regions.

Following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union (EU), Taiwan’s representative to the UK, Vincent Yao, stated that Brexit has allowed the UK to establish closer economic ties with Taiwan, potentially helping Taiwan resist China’s attempts to isolate it. Taiwan is also increasingly investing in the UK, with the goal of becoming the UK’s primary trading partner in Europe. Additionally, strengthening UK-Taiwan trade relations could benefit the UK by providing access to Taiwan’s key industries, such as semiconductors. The bilateral relationship between Taiwan and the UK is reflected in the increase of UK government officials posted to Taiwan and the expansion of the UK office in Taipei. Collaboration between the two countries extends to areas such as artificial intelligence, offshore wind power, and electric vehicle batteries. However, there is still room for further development in bilateral cooperation.

Chiang Wan-an vows to enhance communication with the council after his budget proposals, including the ＂Taipei International Music Festival＂ and free 30-minute YouBike rides, were rejected. He hopes council members will understand the purpose of the budget plans and is open to making adjustments based on their views. Chiang remains committed to better communication, particularly regarding the music festival and YouBike service. He appreciates the recommendations made by councilors during the budget review process and assures that the city government will be open-minded and make appropriate adjustments.