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Alternative Service for Individuals Who Have Returned from Studying Overseas
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| Will the government continue to allow individuals who have been studying overseas and who have not yet completed their military service to perform alternative service on their return to Taiwan? |
| The government recognizes the special circumstances of individuals who have been studying overseas and of Overseas Taiwanese. In as far as it is possible to do so without affecting the fairness of the military service system, the National Conscription Ad min istration of the Ministry of the Interior will continue to allow individuals who have been studying overseas and who have not yet completed their military service to apply for permission to perform alternative service on the grounds of possessing special skills. It is intended that this measure will help to attract Taiwanese who have been studying or working overseas to return to Taiwan to contribute to the nation's development. |
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| In the future, which individuals will be eligible for selection to perform R&D service? |
| To be eligible for selection to perform R&D service, an individual must hold a Master's degree or higher qualification from a Taiwanese university, or from an overseas university or institute (for which the Ministry of Education procedures for verification of overseas qualifications must have been completed), and must possess skills confor min g to the requirements of government agencies, universities, colleges, research institutes or the private sector. |
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| How will the selection of individuals to perform R&D service be conducted ? |
| Male individuals of military service age who conform to the requirements specified above can apply online to perform R&D service. Institutions or companies wishing to use R&D service personnel will have their applications reviewed by the R&D Service Quota Application Review Committee. Those that pass review will be granted a quota of R&D service personnel. A date will then be arranged for the institution or company to interview R&D service personnel. Once the institution or company has prepared a list of the R&D service personnel that it wishes to use, the list will be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior for their approval. |
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| How long is the period for which R&D service personnel are required to perform R&D service ? |
| To prevent an excessive turnover of R&D personnel that could have a negative impact on the implementation of R&D operations, and to ensure that those individuals with special skills are used in an efficient manner such as to enhance overall national competitiveness, the R&D service period is longer than the period for regular military service; R&D service personnel may be required to serve for up to 3 years. |
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| What rights will R&D service personnel hold? |
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The R&D service period will comprise three stages: |
First Stage
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R&D service personnel undergo basic military training and specialist training (approximately 6 weeks) .
During this period, all of the provisions of the Alternative Service Enforcement Regulations will apply. Personnel will be paid at the same rate as a Private (Second Class).
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Second Stage |
The period between assignment to an institution or company (following the completion of basic training and specialist training) and completion of R&D service; this period usually lasts around 14.5 months.
During this period, except where stipulated otherwise, the provisions of the Alternative Service Enforcement Regulations will apply. Personnel will be paid at the same rate as an individual perfor min g regular military service holding the rank of non-commissioned officer or officer. |
Third Stage |
The period from the completion of R&D service and the date on which the individual leaves the institution or company that they are working for. During this period, matters relating to working conditions and benefits (such as salary, compensation for occupational injury, calculation of years of service, payment of pension etc.) will be handled by the institution or company employing the individual in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Standards Law and the Labor Pension Statute; matters relating to labor insurance will be handled in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Insurance Statute. During this period, all costs relating to the employment of the individual will be borne by the institution or company concerned. |
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| In the future, how will the pay of R&D service personnel be calculated and paid? |
(1.)
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During the First Stage, R&D service personnel will be paid at the same rate as a Private (Second Class); this is the same rate of pay received by individuals perfor min g other types of alternative service. The money will be paid out of a fund established for the purpose by the Ministry of the Interior.
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| (2.) |
During the Second Stage, R&D service personnel will be paid at the same rate as an individual perfor min g regular military service and holding the rank of non-commissioned officer or officer. The money will be paid out of a fund established for the purpose by the Ministry of the Interior.
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| (3.) |
During the Third Stage, the relationship between the individual and the institution or company is that of employer and employee. Matters relating to working conditions and benefits (such as salary, pension contributions etc.) and insurance will be handled in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Standards Law, Labor Pension Statute and Labor Insurance Statute. During this period, all expenses relating to the employment of the individual will be borne by the institution or company concerned.
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| Are there any restrictions on the R&D fields in which an institution or company using R&D service personnel may make use of them? |
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The types of institution and company that may apply for R&D service quotas are as follows: government agencies, research institutes, universities and colleges, research foundations and private-sector companies engaged in R&D activity whose operations have been confirmed as either confor min g to the needs of the government's technology policy or industrial policy, or falling within the scope of the one of the key manpower cultivation areas designated by the government. Institutions and companies do not necessarily have to fall within the scope of the “designated industries” (i.e. national defense industries). If an institution or company conforms to the needs of government policy and meets the other requirements laid down by the government, it may submit an application for an R&D service quota. The aim of this policy is to enhance the overall R&D capabilities of Taiwanese industry. |
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| In what ways is the R&D service system an improvement over the old Reserve Officer Training Program for National Defense? |
(1.)
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The period of service for R&D service is sufficient to permit the ongoing cultivation of individuals' R&D expertise and general work skills. However, the period of service is limited to a maximum of four years; furthermore, during the First Stage and Second Stage, individuals perfor min g R&D service receive the same pay, insurance and welfare as individuals perfor min g regular military service holding NCO or officer rank. The new system is thus more equitable.
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| (2.) |
The period of service for R&D service is longer than the period of service for regular military service. However, the working environment, type of work performed and pay are different from regular military service. Furthermore, individuals perfor min g R&D service have the opportunity to enter the workplace, acquire specialist skills and begin to plan out their future career. The individuals' rights are protected, and they have the opportunity to make a contribution to national industrial development and overall economic development.
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| (3.) |
With R&D service, the range of human talent that can be exploited is broader than was the case with the old Reserve Officer Training Program for National Defense. The following types of manpower can be exploited: |
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| a. |
Males whose state of health is adequate for them to perform regular military service. |
| b. |
Males who have been studying overseas and are eligible for military service, but who are not qualified to sit the exa min ation for participation in the Reserve Officer Training Program for National Defense. In the future, by enabling individuals of this type who pass an interview to perform R&D service, it will be possible to encourage talented individuals who have been studying overseas to return to Taiwan to contribute to national development |
| c. |
Males eligible for alternative service who fall into alternative service health category A. |
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| What is “alternative service”? Can individuals who have been studying overseas apply to perform alternative service? What are the different categories of alternative service, how long is the period of service, and are there any restrictions as to who can apply? How does one go about applying to perform alternative service?
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(1.)
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Article 3 of the Alternative Service Enforcement Regulations defines “alternative service” as the service whereby males of military service age perform service in agencies or institutions that have need for them, implementing either public ad min istration services or other types of social service.
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| (2.) |
Since 2005, males of military service age who have obtained an educational qualification from an overseas institution have been allowed to apply to perform alternative service. It is anticipated that allowing males of military service age who have been studying overseas and who have not yet performed military service to return to Taiwan to perform alternative service will help to speed up the process of internationalization in Taiwan, help Taiwan to develop a diversified, internationalized living environment, and make it possible to leverage the skills that these individuals have acquired overseas, their knowledge and their international outlook to improve government performance and ad min istrative efficiency.
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| (3.) |
Article 4 of the Alternative Service Enforcement Regulations provides for the following categories of alternative service: |
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| a. |
Public order services:
(a.)
Police service
(b.)
Fire prevention service |
| b. |
Social services:
(a.)Social service
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Environmental protection service
(c.)
Healthcare service
(d.)
Educational service
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| c. |
Other categories of service designated by the Executive Yuan (including cultural service, cadastral service, judicial ad min istration service, economic security service, foreign affairs service, sport service, tourism service, and public ad min istration service). |
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| (4.) |
Currently, the period of service for alternative service is: 1 year and 4 months (the same as for regular military service) in the case of individuals whose state of health does not conform to the requirements for regular military service, and individuals who have applied to perform alternative service for family reasons; 1 year and 6 months in the case of individuals whose state of health is sufficiently good for them to be able to perform regular military service; 1 year and 8 months in the case of individuals applying to perform alternative service for religious reasons. |
| (5.) |
Qualifications for applying to perform alternative service: |
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| a. |
Individuals applying to perform alternative service may not previously have had the commencement of military service postponed, submitted an application to have their health classification reviewed, or received an extension for the commencement of military service. |
| b. |
Individuals applying to perform alternative service must not currently be involved in court cases relating to (or have previous convictions for) any of the crimes specified as preventing application to perform the category of alternative service for which application has been made (this restriction shall not apply in the case of persons convicted of crimes as juveniles, persons who committed crimes out of negligence, or persons who have had their sentence suspended). |
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| (6.) |
If an individual who has been studying overseas wishes to apply to perform alternative service on the basis of their specialist skills, they should register on the National Conscription Ad min istration, Ministry of the Interior website (www.nca.gov.tw) within the time limit specified by the Ministry of the Interior, giving their personal details, the type of service they wish to perform, the agency they wish to perform service for, and the date on which they would be beginning service. An application form (together with the individual's academic record, certified by the Taiwan representative office in the country where the individual is currently residing) should then be sent to the National Conscription Ad min istration, Ministry of the Interior, within the time limit specified by the Ministry of the Interior. |
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