By Teng Hon-yuan 鄧鴻源
A retired elementary-school teacher surnamed Lai (賴) said that, after retiring at the age of 50, he earned a monthly pension of over NT$60,000. Since retirement, he has earned over NT$10 million (US$306,457). If the government does not allocate more funding, the pension funds would soon go bankrupt. There is an urgent need for reform. If his monthly pension were lowered to NT$50,000, it would still be enough to cover basic life expenses, he said.
In response, Taipei School Education Union president Lee Hui-lan (李惠蘭) said to Lai: “What do you mean by using your own pension as an example?”
In comparing the two, Lee seems completely heartless. She clearly only cares about her own interests and lacks empathy for workers. Ninety percent of retired workers receive an average monthly pension of just NT$20,000, while retired teachers earn over NT$60,000 on average — is this fair and just?
This unfairness and injustice was entirely caused by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). The military, civil servants and teachers are their largest source of support, so the KMT has consistently catered to these groups. Workers, who make up the majority of retired people, have been completely cast aside.
How can such a political party not be despised? How much longer must workers endure this inequality?
Teng Hon-yuan is a university professor.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
