Taipei, June 23 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan has decided to extend the plenary meetings of its current extraordinary session, which usually meet from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., to midnight, in the hope of reviewing and passing three draft bills on pension reform as soon as possible.
Lawmakers will use the extra time to review draft bills on retirement pensions, severance pay and compensation for public servants, public school teachers and political appointees, said Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋), a caucus whip of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, on Friday.
Lee said the objective was for the bills would clear the Legislature no later than next Tuesday.
"We hope the review can be accelerated," he said, "the ultimate goal is to complete the legislation next Monday."
The Legislative Yuan is holding an extraordinary session, in which lawmakers have been tasked with debating major bills related to pension reform and the government's Forward-looking Infrastructure Development program.
From Friday to July 5, each sitting will run from morning to midnight to ensure the review process is completed before the second session of the year opens in September, Lee said.
