Money from the Labor Department! Eligible 55+ Workers Can Claim Two Payments – Up to NT$60,000 Deposited if Qualified; Full Guide to Employment Incentive Application

To support workers returning to employment after retirement and encourage enterprises to retain aging employees, Taiwan's Ministry of Labor has announced the relaxation of four eligibility conditions under the '55 Employment Promotion Measures,' while extending the 'Subsidy Program for Continued Employment of Senior Workers' to be accepted year-round. Under the new system, workers referred to jobs can apply for incentive payments after just 30 days of employment, significantly lowering the threshold for receiving benefits.

2026 Ministry of Labor '55 Employment Promotion Measures': Four Application Criteria and Subsidy Amounts Summary

The Ministry of Labor stated that since the launch of the '55 Employment Promotion Measures' in 2024 (Year 113), nearly 5,000 people have successfully returned to the workforce by 2025 (Year 114), and around 1,500 workers have received assistance in optimizing their work environments. Considering the diverse working hours of job vacancies in the labor market, four conditions have been specifically optimized and revised this time.

Revisions to the '55 Employment Promotion Measures' by the Ministry of Labor:

· Lowered salary thresholds for part-time workers: Part-time workers aged 55–64 and those aged 65 and above must earn at least 1/3 and 1/4 of the minimum monthly wage respectively to qualify for incentives, receiving NT$3,500 and NT$2,500 respectively.

· Shortened employment duration requirement: The required employment period for receiving employment incentives has been drastically reduced from the original 90 days to just 30 days. Workers referred by public employment service agencies who complete 30 days of employment meet the eligibility criteria.

· Expanded types of job contracts: Not limited to open-ended contracts, fixed-term contracts are now formally included, providing mid-career and senior job seekers with more diverse employment options.

· Protection of rights for involuntarily laid-off workers: Workers who are laid off involuntarily after being referred to a job are exempt from re-calculating the 'unemployed for 3 months' eligibility restriction, facilitating continued job searching.

2026 Mid-Career and Senior Employment Incentive

Eligible Group Salary Threshold (Minimum Wage Ratio) Full Employment Days Incentive Amount (per person) Aged 55–64 At least 1/3 of minimum wage 30 days NT$3,500 Aged 65 and above At least 1/4 of minimum wage 30 days NT$2,500

Employer Subsidy for Retaining Senior Workers: Now Acceptable Year-Round

To encourage businesses to retain experienced senior talent, the 'Subsidy Program for Continued Employment of Senior Workers' in 2025 (Year 114) has already supported over 2,500 workers. In response to urgent labor demands from enterprises, the Ministry of Labor has extended the application acceptance period of this program from the original two months per year to all 12 months of the year. Additionally, the calculation basis for continued employment ratios has been clarified to improve ease of application for businesses.

Policy Measure 2025 Performance Current Optimization Focus Benefits and Goals 55 Employment Promotion Measures Nearly 5,000 returned to work 1. Lower salary threshold 2. Employment period shortened to 30 days 3. Fixed-term contracts included 4. No re-calculation of unemployment period Lower barriers to re-entering the workforce; strengthen incentives for silver-haired reemployment Subsidy Program for Continued Employment of Senior Workers Over 2,500 senior workers subsidized 1. Applications accepted year-round 2. Clarified calculation basis for continued employment ratio Streamline business application process; encourage enterprises to retain aging talent

2026 55 Employment Promotion Measures and Continued Employment of Senior Workers Subsidy. (Image/Courtesy of the Ministry of Labor)

How to Apply for the '55 Employment Incentive' Under the Mid-Career Employment Promotion Measures for Workers Aged 55+

I. Application Conditions

· Mid-career and senior workers aged 55 or above who have been continuously unemployed for over three months after leaving the workforce.

· Workers aged 45 or above who have legally retired and have been continuously unemployed for over three months.

II. Application Process

1. Workers register for job-seeking at a public employment service agency, obtain a '55 Employment Referral Card,' and report their employment status within seven days from the date of referral.

2. Workers referred by a public employment service agency must be employed continuously by the same employer for at least 90 days, meet relevant incentive regulations, and be enrolled in labor insurance, employment insurance, and labor occupational injury insurance.

3. Within 90 days from the day following each completed 90-day employment period, applicants may submit required documents to a public employment service agency to apply for incentives.

III. Payment Standards and Deadlines

Payments are issued based on the following criteria, up to a maximum of six months per person:

· Full-time workers earning at least the monthly minimum wage: NT$10,000 per month

· Part-time workers: - Monthly wages reaching at least 1/2 of the minimum wage: NT$5,000 per month - Monthly wages reaching at least 1/3 but less than 1/2 of the minimum wage: NT$3,500 per month - Monthly wages reaching at least 1/4 but less than 1/3 of the minimum wage: NT$2,500 per month

Combining 'Job Redesign' and Employment Incentives to Enable Silver-Haired Workforce Continuity

The Ministry of Labor emphasized that, facing labor force aging and industrial labor shortages, effectively utilizing mid-career and senior workers is key for enterprises to maintain sufficient manpower. Moving forward, the government will continue promoting employment incentives to encourage hiring, subsidizing companies to conduct vocational training to enhance competitiveness, and removing employment barriers for seniors through 'job redesign'.

Individuals and enterprises seeking further details on policy resources and subsidy applications can visit the Ministry of Labor's '45+ Employment Resource Network' (https://45plus.wda.gov.tw/) or call the toll-free customer service hotline 0800-777-888.

Q1: Through what channels must mid-career workers find jobs to qualify for the '55 Employment Promotion Measures' incentive?

A: Workers must be referred to employment through a 'public employment service agency' and complete 30 days of employment to qualify for the incentive.

Q2: Are there time restrictions for enterprises applying for the 'Subsidy Program for Continued Employment of Senior Workers'?

A: The new system has expanded the original two-month application window to allow applications throughout all 12 months of the year, enabling enterprises to apply anytime according to their workforce planning.

Q3: I retired and am looking for part-time (part-time) work—can I still receive this payment?

Yes! The biggest change in this revision is the relaxation of salary ratio requirements for part-time workers (1/3 or 1/4 is now sufficient).