Legislature reduces taxes artists pay on sold works
By Chien Hui-ju and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
The Legislative Yuan on Friday passed an amendment to reduce the taxes artists pay on income from auctioned art.
The amendment which replaces the Culture and Arts Reward Act (文化藝術獎助條例) with the Culture and Arts Reward and Promotion Act (文化藝術獎助及促進條例) stipulates that proceeds from art sales are to be taxed on a per-transaction basis, and not reported as part of an artist’s annual income. Taxes would be calculated as 20 percent of 6 percent of the final transaction amount which reduces the tax from the income of a sold artwork by 1.2 percent.
TPP lawmakers slam labor conditions
AGING TAX BASE: Among a host of other issues, Lai Hsiang-ling said that an injection of NT$22bn would not shore up the labor insurance fund before it becomes insolvent
By Chen Yun
and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶) yesterday called Taiwan’s low wages “a national disgrace,” and demanded that the government improve working conditions and raise the minimum wage.
Lai was speaking at a news conference at the TPP caucus office at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, which was also attended by representatives of the Taipei Art Creators’ Union and Taipei Confederation of Trade Unions.
Lawmaker orders Japan envoy Frank Hsieh to report
WATER FUROR: A KMT legislator said Frank Hsieh is required in Taipei this week to report on the development and prospects of the Taiwan-Japan relationship
By Chen Yun / Staff reporter
Representative to Japan Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) is required to report to the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense committee on Thursday after his remarks about Japan’s plan to discharge water from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant sparked controversy, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Liao Wan-ju (廖婉汝) said yesterday.
Japan on April 13 announced that it plans to release treated water containing tritium from the wrecked nuclear plant into the ocean, despite protests from neighboring countries.
Cyberattack confirmed, but Quanta ‘unaffected’
‘REVIL’ PLOT: Legislator Ann Kao called on the government to help tech companies to combat cyberattacks, as most lack proper experts in the field
Staff writer, with CNA
Quanta Computer Inc (廣達電腦) yesterday confirmed that it had recently been subject to a cyberattack, but said that its operations have not been affected.
“Quanta Computer’s information security team has worked with external [information technology] experts in response to cyberattacks on a small number of Quanta servers,” the company said in a statement.
“We’ve reported to and have maintained seamless communications with the relevant law enforcement and data protection authorities concerning recent abnormal activities. There has been no material impact on the company’s business operations,” it said.
TPP proposes alternative to Su’s children’s plaza plan
By Hsieh Chun-lin
and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers yesterday blasted a plan by the Executive Yuan to spend NT$12.8 billion (US$448.6 million) on a children’s plaza, saying the money could be put to better use on education, social and labor reforms to improve children’s quality of life.
TPP caucus convener Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) and TPP deputy caucus convener Ann Kao (高虹安) made the call at a news conference in Taipei ahead of Children’s Day on Sunday.
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on Saturday last week unveiled a plan to build a children’s plaza in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋), where he said children could learn about technology and culture through play.