Government Offers Bonuses! Do 'This' First When Returning to Work, Get Up to NT$60,000 in Employment Incentives

Here's a summary of the key points for the Ministry of Labor's 2026 '55 Employment Promotion Incentive' new system: 1. Eligibility: Individuals aged 55 or older who have been out of the workforce for 3 consecutive months, or those aged 45 or older who have retired according to law (e.g., already receiving labor insurance old-age benefits or labor retirement pension). 2. Incentive Amount: Up to 6 months per person. • Full-time employment: NT$10,000 per month, with a maximum cumulative total of NT$60,000. • Part-time employment (part-time/fixed-term contract): Amount varies based on salary tiers. NT$5,000/month if earning at least 1/2 of the minimum wage; NT$3,500/month if earning between 1/3 and 1/2 of the minimum wage; NT$2,500/month if earning between 1/4 and 1/3 (only for those aged 65 and above). 3. New System Relaxations: Starting in 2026, fixed-term contracts will be included, part-time salary thresholds will be lowered, and the employment qualification will be shortened to 30 consecutive days of employment with the same employer. 4. Application Process (Order is crucial): You must first register for job seeking at a public employment service agency and obtain a '55 Employment Referral Card' before being employed. If you find a job first and then apply, you will not be eligible for the incentive. 5. Claim Period: Applications must generally be submitted within 90 days from the day after every 3 consecutive months of employment. 6. Ineligibility Cases: False claims, employing a spouse or blood relative within the third degree of kinship, re-hiring an employee who left less than a year ago by the same employer, etc. 7. Special Guarantee: If you are involuntarily unemployed during the incentive period, you can continue to receive the remaining incentives without the requirement of another 3-month waiting period upon re-employment.