The opposition KMT and TPP have joined forces in their proposals to halt the
annual reduction of pension payment and the income replacement rate for civil
servants and teachers.

The TPP expressed their support for the proposal yesterday and brought
forward its own version of the amendments to the Retirement and Severance
Compensation laws for those workers.

The laws were changed 7 years ago under President Tsai's pension reform
policy.

Local news media expect the draft bills to be passed into law next month
since the blue and white parties hold a majority in the legislature.

Today is the first day that the Legislative Judicial Committee starts
reviewing the 26 different proposals on the same issue.

Meanwhile the ruling DPP is calling on the public to voice their support for
the pension reform, which has lasted 7 years, saying as the pension fund
deficit grows larger, the government will ultimately bear the burden.

They say that means the cost will shift to all taxpayers.

(JL)