Although Taiwan is not yet a member of ILO, we have been working hard over the years to incorporate the spirit of ILO conventions into our domestic labor law. To ensure that female workers enjoy equal rights in employment, Taiwan passed the Gender Equality in Employment Law in 2002. The law addresses to the problem of gender discrimination in working places by regulating that employers have responsibility to prevent sexual harassments. The law, in many ways, manifests our dedication to create a working environment conducive to gender equality. According to the 2003 Human Development Report published by the UN Development Program, Taiwan won the first place among Asian countries in the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) rank. The GEM evaluates progress in advancing women at the economic and political level, and the UN report affirms Taiwan's commitment to promoting gender equality.
Moreover, to cope with the impact of globalization and liberalization, Taiwan passed the Employment Insurance Law in 2002 and the Law on the Protection Against Mass Dismissal of Employees in 2003. The government added regulations protecting labor rights to the Company Merger Law in 2004. In addition, it has proposed draft amendments to three key labor laws—the Labor Union Law, the Collective Agreement Law and the Labor Dispute Law, and is now drawing up "labor dispatch law" to meet market need. Meanwhile, we are strengthening the institutions of social dialogue during the process of privatizing state-owned enterprises. These efforts are manifestation of the government's dedication to protecting labor rights during our nation's economic restructuring.
In order to take care of retired workers, protect basic labor rights, and establish a multi-pillar system to provide economic security to the elderly, the government has launched a national pension program and introduced monthly pension payments in most cases instead of lump-sum payouts. Moreover, Taiwan successfully passed the Labor Retirement Pension Act last year to create a system based mainly on individual retirement accounts and supported by other pension insurance programs. Under this new system, an employee can enjoy preferential tax measures if, in addition to the employer's contribution, he may voluntarily contribute an additional amount of his pre-tax salary to the account. The implementation of this system marked a big step forward by the government in helping stabilize business management and providing economic security for employees in their old age.
In the past, employees have the right to collect pension payments when retiring from businesses for which they have worked for 25 years (or for 15 years if they are retiring after age 55). Many retirees would never benefit much from this system, since the years of employment used in the payment calculation are only those of his last employment and not cumulative through years of employment with different businesses. The old pension system is very unreasonable indeed.
After the new pension system was launched in July 1 this year, each employee can have a pension account specific to him and the account is "portable" with him as he works for successive businesses. Employees no longer have to worry about loss of pension payments because of job changes; therefore, they can have more freedom to choose to change career or pursue higher education according to their own plans. The new pension system not only enhances quality of employees but also helps improve the comprehensive competitiveness of our industries in a very positive way.
After I became the President in 2000, I announced that the protection of human rights should form the foundation of our nation and that Taiwan would not exclude itself from the worldwide trend to advance human rights. I pledged that Taiwan would abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action as adopted at the UN World Conference on Human Rights.
After I was re-elected President in 2004, I have continued pushing for the second-phase constitutional reform to further deepen Taiwan's democracy and protect human rights. We hope that the three basic labor rights—the right to organize, the right to collective bargaining and the right to collective action—which are fundamental human rights, can be enshrined in our Constitution.
Human rights is a universal value and the government shall among all tasks set furthering the protection of human rights as one of its administrative objectives. We have to reflect on the areas where we have not done enough, but we shall not overlook the government's commitment to improving the human rights condition of foreign workers over the years. For example, the implementation of labor standards regarding labor insurance, health insurance and minimum wage is one of the concrete actions we have taken to ensure that foreign workers enjoy the same protection of labor rights as domestic workers.
Currently, we have about 300,000 foreign workers in Taiwan. They have made remarkable contribution to our country's economic development and we shall be grateful for what they have done for us. Besides, we would like to take this opportunity to express our expectation to strengthen cooperation and dialogue with international organizations and other Asian countries on issues concerning immigrant workers. We shall work together to enhance the protection of the human rights of immigrant workers.
Our people have worked very hard over the years. Because of their efforts, Taiwan ranks 15th globally for world trade volume last year. Taiwan, which ascended into the World Trade Organization and became its 144th member in 2002, often won leading places in international competitiveness ranking. However, in pursuing the sustainable development of our country and society, we cannot only focus on economics and politics but forget social development.
I would like to quote from the preamble of the ILO Constitution as I approach the end of my speech. "Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice," states the Constitution. As a member of the international society, Taiwan shall not only pursue political democratization and economic liberalization; it shall also strengthen cooperation with the international community and implement measures to advance labor rights and human rights in its quest for social justice and real peace.
In closing, I would like to extend my most sincere welcome to all of you once again on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan. I wish the 8th Asian Regional Congress of ISLSSL every success. I would also like to express my appreciation to Chairman of the Organizing Committee Joseph Lee, Chairman of the Council of Labor Affair Lee Ying-yuan and the host of this Congress the Association of Industrial Relations of the Republic of China for their dedicated efforts in organizing this event. I wish all of our distinguished guests health and happiness and the Congress great success. Thank you!