Amid Accusations of Reviving 'Double-Salary Fat Cats,' Yeh Calls on DPP to Stop Spreading Rumors

Central News Agency Report

(Taipei, June 17 — Reporter Wang Cheng-chung) KMT legislator Yeh Yuan-chih has proposed removing the current restrictions that prevent retired military personnel, civil servants, and educators from receiving both their monthly pension and a full salary upon reemployment—commonly referred to as 'double-salary fat cats.' The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has criticized the move as a step backward in public sector reform. Yeh responded today, stating that the original intent of the proposal was to lift salary caps for retired public servants to help address severe staffing shortages in schools, and urged the DPP to stop spreading rumors and instead engage in constructive dialogue.

Under current regulations, retired military, civil service, and education personnel who take up new positions in public offices, administrative corporations, or state-funded or state-invested entities (above a certain threshold) must forfeit their monthly pension if their new salary exceeds the minimum wage or a legally defined amount. This rule aims to prevent individuals from simultaneously collecting a government salary and a public pension.

Yeh Yuan-chih and other KMT lawmakers have submitted amendments to several laws, including the Public School Staff Retirement, Severance, and Pension Act, the Civil Servants Retirement, Severance, and Pension Act, and the Military Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers Service Act, seeking to remove the existing 'double-salary fat cat' prohibition clause.

DPP caucus whip Cheng Jui-hsiung criticized the proposal on June 16, stating it is unfair to grassroots civil servants and contradicts the KMT’s past stance of condemning double-salary practices. He accused the KMT of reversing hard-won reforms.

Today, KMT legislators Yeh Yuan-chih and Lo Ting-wei held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan under the banner: 'Adjusting Salary Caps for Retired Public Servants to Prevent Fat Cats and Alleviate School Staffing Shortages.'

Yeh emphasized that the core motivation behind his legislative proposal is straightforward: schools are facing acute labor shortages. Principals often request retired teachers to return as substitutes or part-time instructors, but their compensation frequently exceeds the current NT$20,000 monthly cap, disqualifying them from such roles.

Yeh also pointed out that school safety has become increasingly complex, and he hopes to recruit retired police and military personnel as campus security officers. However, if these retirees are receiving monthly pensions, their reemployment income is capped at around NT$30,000. Raising salaries to attract qualified candidates would exclude them under current rules.

Yeh stressed that the proposal aims solely to resolve talent shortages in schools. He criticized DPP legislators and their allies for misrepresenting his intentions, accusing them of spreading false claims that he seeks to revive 'fat cats.' He argued that the current ruling DPP is the only party capable of enabling such abuses, implying hypocrisy in their criticism.

Lo Ting-wei echoed that the proposal's intent is purely to support schools and address staffing gaps in education and campus security. He emphasized that allowing experienced personnel to return is a necessary corrective measure—'mending the fold after the sheep are lost'—and the right path forward. (Edited by Su Chih-tsung) 1150617