Newsletter
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REGULATIONS REVISED
The Council of Labor Affairs announced and implemented the revisions to the Measures for the Implementation of Unemployment Insurance on 1 August 1999. The amount of unemployment benefits was increased from 50% of the monthly insured wage to 60%, and the time period for payment of benefits was extended from three months to six months. The scope of workers covered is broadened from workers in firms of five persons or more to include workers in firms with four workers or fewer who voluntarily participate in the program. To lower the threshold for qualification, in addition to cases where workers become unemployed when employers close factories, temporarily halt operations, suspend operations or down-size operations, workers are now able to apply for benefits when they become involuntarily unemployed due to the conditions provided in Articles 11 and 14 of the Labor Standards Law.