COVID-19 Relief: Application Details for Living Allowance for Self-Employed Workers and Workers Without Employers

In view of the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of China has planned a three-month living allowance for “self-employed workers” and “workers without a fixed employer.” Those in need can check the “Epidemic Prevention Section[1]” on the Ministry of Labor’s official website and contact and consult their affiliated occupational union.

The Ministry of Labor’s planned relief program for self-employed workers will issue a subsidy of NT$10,000 per month, totaling NT$30,000 for three months paid in a lump sum. It applies to self-employed workers insured through an occupational union and workers without a fixed employer who meet the following three conditions, including:

1. The insured salary through the occupational union must be below NT$24,000;
2. 2018 income did not reach the taxable threshold;
3. Labor insurance was already insured through the occupational union before March 31.

However, because the government has raised the minimum basic wage to NT$23,800 in recent years, this subsidy limit is only NT$200 higher, which has drawn protests from many members of the public who believe that more workers actually also badly need a living allowance but find it hard to meet such harsh subsidy conditions.

There are also many who, by joining occupational unions and insuring cheap labor and health insurance, are invisible millionaires with excellent profit-making ability. Such professionals instead easily obtain additional living allowances under these conditions, which the public has criticized as a “wealth-inclusion clause,” making people feel it is extremely unfair.

Conversely, many disadvantaged people in areas who have not joined occupational unions, under the impact of this COVID-19 outbreak, not only have fewer meager odd jobs on ordinary days, but cannot even get a living allowance. They hope the government can pay attention to this and humble itself to learn from former President Ma Ying-jeou and the cash-distribution model of many countries today, so that the public can obtain living allowances and get through the difficulties of the epidemic.

References

1. Ministry of Labor Special Assistance Section for Severe Special Infectious Pneumonia