Welcoming the New Year with New Initiatives

Words and photos by Taichung City Government
Translated by Ann Lee

The central and city governments are bringing in 2009 with a series of new initiatives, including the dispensing of cash vouchers to the general public in a bid to boost the local economy, or an adjustment in Taichung's assessed current land values. Other policy areas to be closely examined will include a revamped laborers' rights, allowance and approbated grant system. In addition, Taiwan's Tobacco Hazards Prevention and Control Act is being revised to expand smoke-free areas. In order to improve Taichung's overall air quality, the city government will be introducing new guidelines that includes a punishment and reward system. Consequently, it is important for citizens make special note of all these changes.

The following is a list of new government measures/policies that will take effect in the coming year:

● NT$3,600 consumer vouchers will officially be distributed from January 18, 2009. Taichung City Government has planned 537 distribution venues within the city where citizens can obtain their vouchers. There will also be eight voucher-dispensing venues for foreign spouses, bringing the total number of distribution points to 545.

The Civil Affairs Bureau has announced that those not picking up their cash vouchers within the first official dispensing period may receive their vouchers when they go to their local post office within the second voucher-dispensing period.

● In an effort to improve air quality in Taiwan, starting January 1, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency will reward NT$300 to anyone who reports polluting vehicles to authorities. All you need to do is attach three photos along with your report and send it off to your local city/county Environmental Protection Bureau, to help prove the case. Once the violator is officially fined, the NT$300 will be awarded.

● A new laborers' allowance and approbated grant scheme will take effect on January 1, 2009. The former "Disability Benefits" policy will be renamed the "Disability Insurance Benefits", meaning workers involved in occupational accidents who have partial or total disability, or are elderly or dying, may receive these financial grants. This change gives a new definition to workers' allowance and approbated grants. In general, there will be three main categories for the program: Old-Age Pension, Disability Living Allowance, and Survivor's Subsidy. For more detailed information regarding these new regulations, visit the Bureau of Labor Insurance website, http://www.bli.gov.tw/

● After the assessment of Taichung's 2009 land current values, the government has found that there has only been a 1.43% increase, representing the lowest growth in five years. According to the city government's understanding, the reason for this low land value growth is the fact that the real estate market has reached its ultimate downturn at the moment. The government is aiming to again boost land values by reducing taxation burdens on construction companies and citizens in general.

There are a total of 3,243 zones within Taichung city. At the moment, 95 percent of these zones have not been assessed for land values. The only administrative zone suffering from a significant drop is within the city's Northern District, although this was only a fall of 0.02%. This means that, generally speaking, Taichung residents' land-value taxes should also decrease.

● The new Tobacco Hazard Prevention Act will take effect on January 11, 2009. The amended act states that pregnant women are prohibited from smoking. In addition, apart from venues such as motels, shopping malls and dining establishments, no other public businesses will be allowed to provide ash trays. However, all private businesses may create independently-partitioned indoor smoking rooms with independent ventilation systems for smokers. Smoking will be strictly prohibited in all the following places--government offices, hospitals, colleges, inside public transportation (buses, trains, airplanes, etc.), public transport waiting stops/rooms, libraries and all school campuses with students up through high school.