Council of Agriculture plans to expand occupational accident insurance: 15 yuan a month for farmers, even bruises and sprains are covered
To protect farmers' work rights, Farmers' Occupational Accident Insurance was launched last November; as of the end of February this year, 135,000 people had joined, a participation rate of 12%, and the Council of Agriculture has even set a year-end target of 20%. The pilot program for farmers' occupational insurance targets those enrolled in farmers' health insurance, but many people who actually farm cannot join farmers' health insurance. Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung said, "Those who farm should have the opportunity to join Farmers' Occupational Accident Insurance." At present, amendments to the law are being studied to expand the eligible pool, so that people who actually farm but are not eligible for farmers' health insurance can join farmers' occupational insurance; the proposal is expected to be put forward by the end of June.
Injuries from combine harvester collisions, sickle cuts and hornet stings are all covered
On the 11th, the Council of Agriculture held a "Farmers' Occupational Accident Insurance Promotion Press Conference" to commend the county and city governments and farmers' associations that have worked hard to promote it. Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Chen Tien-shou pointed out that farmers' health insurance does not cover occupational accidents, but field work is dangerous; he himself was once injured while harvesting bananas and still has a scar on his face to this day. He said that whether it is injury from operating agricultural machinery, falls, fractures, pesticide poisoning or heatstroke, occupational accident insurance provides payouts. "Where there is work, there is a need for insurance protection, and what the Council of Agriculture must do is strengthen protection for farmers."
The number of insured people under farmers' health insurance nationwide is 1,133,380, and as of the end of February this year, 135,000 people had joined farmers' occupational insurance, a participation rate of 12%. Among them, Yunlin County had 25,000 participants, a participation rate of 21.6%, and Chiayi County had 15,000 participants, a participation rate of 15.43%.
As of the end of February this year, the Bureau of Labor Insurance had received 253 applications for payouts, of which 85 had been approved, mainly for injuries from combine harvester collisions, cuts from sickles while harvesting, cuts from broken pesticide sprayer straps, falls and hornet stings.
Farmers pay 15 yuan a month and receive four types of payouts
Chen Chi-chung said that farmers need pay only 15 yuan a month to enjoy four types of payouts, including injury payout, medical visit allowance, physical and mental disability payout, and funeral allowance. Legislation was completed last November and it was officially launched; in four months, more than 130,000 farmers have joined, and the number will continue to grow, with the goal of 200,000 farmers enrolled by the end of this year.
Chen Chi-chung: The system will be amended so that anyone who farms can join occupational accident insurance
The pilot program for Farmers' Occupational Accident Insurance targets those enrolled in farmers' health insurance, but many people who actually farm cannot join farmers' health insurance. In response, Chen Chi-chung explained that Council of Agriculture policies are all based on land rather than people, but Taiwan's farmland prices are the highest in the world, and buying land is already difficult, so the direction will be to decouple people from land. "In the future, subsidies should target actual agricultural producers, not landowners. If we do not adjust this, the Council of Agriculture's budget will not be able to directly care for farmers."
Chen Chi-chung gave examples such as young farmers, farmers who have obtained cultivation permits to farm on public river land, and even retired military personnel, who cannot join farmers' occupational insurance because they cannot join farmers' health insurance. He stressed, "Anyone who farms should have the opportunity to join Farmers' Occupational Accident Insurance." Therefore, amendments to the law are currently being studied and are expected to be proposed by the end of June.
Chen Chi-chung explained that farmers' welfare policy has four important types of insurance, including farmers' health insurance, Farmers' Occupational Accident Insurance, crop insurance and a farmers' retirement system. "When all four are achieved, those who farm will have basic protection." The Council of Agriculture is also currently studying a retirement system and will complete it as soon as possible.