Page 9 - BLI-Brief Introduction

Chapter Two - Profile of Labor Insurance and Labor Protection Programs

Labor Insurance Program insuring their employees. Labor insurance is
divided into compulsory enrollment and voluntary
The labor insurance program was established in enrollment. Under the compulsory enrollment
March 1950; during the initial stage, it only issued category, all the employees, aged above 15 and
cash benefits. In July 1956, inpatient medical below 65, employed by the company, enterprise, and
benefits were added, followed by outpatient medical institution with 5 or more employees, employees of
benefits in 1970. In 1979, labor insurance was government agencies or public or private schools
classified into ordinary accident insurance and who are not legally entitled to join the insurance
occupational accident insurance. On March 1, 1995, program of civil servants and teachers, workers
the responsibility of providing medical-care benefits employed in fishing production, members of an
of ordinary accident insurance was transferred to occupational union who have no definite employer
the Bureau of National Health Insurance (which or who are self-employed, and fishermen who
was revamped as the National Health Insurance belong to Class A of fishermen’s associations
Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare) are required to join. Candidates participating on
after the national health insurance program was a voluntary basis include persons employed in
established. On January 1, 1999, the business occupations outside of those mentioned in the
of unemployment benefits of labor insurance paragraph 1 of Article 6 of the Labor Insurance
was implemented. On January 1, 2003, after the Act, employers concurrently engaged in laboring
Employment Insurance Law was promulgated, the services, persons employed in enterprises which
business of unemployment benefits was separated have less than 5 employees in occupations, seamen
from the labor insurance program and merged into serving in vessels abroad who are members of
the Employment Insurance Act. the Chinese Seamen's Union or the Association of

The Labor Insurance Act was partially amended Chinese Ship owners. Persons who may continue in
and announced by presidential order on August 13, the labor insurance coverage include those who are
2008. Old-age, disability, and survivor benefits shall under military service, sent abroad for investigation,
be paid in the form of pensions. These amendments research, or providing services, during injury or sick
were announced and implemented by the Executive leave without pay—injured or sick for a period of less
Yuan Order on January 1, 2009. than 1 year owing to ordinary accidents, or absent
The presidential order on April 30, 2021 announced from work for a period of less than 2 years as a
the establishment of the Labor Occupational result of occupational accidents; insured persons
Accident Insurance and Protection Act, decoupling who have withdrawn from the program due to
Occupational Accident Insurance from Labor separation from employment but have not applied
insurance. The Occupational Accident Insurance for old-age benefits and have resumed working after
had expanded the scope of insurance inclusion and reaching the age of 65, are detained or suspended
increased the protection provided by the benefits, from work on account of a court case before the
combined the prevention and rehabilitation work of decision of the court is announced, have been laid
occupational accidents, and was implemented on off and not entitled to claim old-age benefits, are
May 1, 2022. exposed to occupational accidents, and during the
period of medical treatment for occupational injury
1. Insured Units and Insured Persons or illness withdraws from the insurance program

Labor insurance is a group insurance. All units upon the termination of work contract, and are not
eligible for coverage should join the program, qualified to apply the old-age benefits, and persons,

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