Taiwan's Executive Yuan has warned that if the supplementary budget bill fails to pass before the end of the year, increased social welfare allowances may not be paid out — bad news for people who receive pensions and benefits.

• Premier Cho Jung-tai went to the Legislative Yuan to press for the review of both the general budget bill and the supplementary budget bill to be completed within the statutory deadline.
• The DPP caucus criticised the opposition parties for holding up the budget bills in the Legislative Yuan, saying bluntly that the legislature is not a "car park" for budget bills.
• Last year's central government general budget bill was passed only after a long delay, and there is concern that the same situation will be repeated this time.
• Those genuinely affected are not civil servants' salaries, but the people waiting to receive pensions, benefits and subsidies.

Outlook: The Legislative Yuan's new session has opened and committee reviews are about to begin; whether the budget bills can clear the legislature before the end of the year will determine whether the increased social welfare payments are disbursed on schedule.