Retired officials should not get double incomes anymore

These retired officials, usually high-ranking ones, enjoy huge pension payments monthly. But they have not really retired from work. They have only changed positions — from government or military offices to semi-official ones.

Their new employers are usually companies or organizations that are funded by or receive investment from the government, who continue to pay these “retirees” salaries, on top of the pensions.

Their retirement packages have long been problematic in that they are entitled to an annual 18 percent interest rate for their pension savings.

The total sum of these pension packages and salaries are often even higher than the incomes of the premier and other ranking officials.

The government is cash-strapped, and the companies and groups they work for may be in financial difficulties. But that does not prevent these fat cats from receiving fat paychecks.

Do they deserve such high pay? Some of them may, due to the hard work and performance in their new posts.

But many of them have been appointed to the new positions as a political reward, and they do not really have much to do or contribute to the companies.

They may be government representatives on the board of directors of these companies, and all they may have to do is to vote on behalf of the government.

Or they may be advisers to government-funded organizations, which do not really need their advice.

Premier Wu Den-yih agrees that these retirees should make a choice between the pensions from their previous jobs and salaries of their present occupations. He has promised lawmakers that he will remedy the situation.

It may be easier said than done. Take for example the 18 percent special interest rate for the government pensions savings.

It has long been widely recognized as an unfair practice favoring government workers. There have been talks about revising the scheme, but government retirees (including civil servants, teachers and military personnel) are still able to enjoy the high interest rate.

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