TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet's personnel administration rejected a proposal to end the National Travel Card program, saying it encourages civil servants to take annual leave and protects employee health, CNA reported Monday.
UDN reported that the proposal was posted on the government's Public Policy Network Participation Platform. It called for ending the card program and allowing unused leave to be fully compensated in cash when civil servants cannot take time off because of work demands.
The proposal said the current system requires part of the compensation linked to unused leave to be spent through the National Travel Card. It argued that restrictions on eligible purchases limit how civil servants can use the money.
In response, the personnel administration said it would not adopt the proposal for now. It said replacing the system with cash payments could give civil servants less incentive to take enough time off, per Up Media.
The agency said required leave days help protect employees' physical and mental health. Government figures show civil servants took an average of 11.32 days of annual leave in 2025.
Civil servants entitled to more than 10 days of annual leave are generally required to take at least 10 days. They can receive up to NT$16,000 (US$502) a year through the National Travel Card program, per Liberty Times.
Half of the subsidy can be spent without tourism-related restrictions. The other NT$8,000 must be used for tourism-related spending.
The personnel administration said the card subsidy is a welfare benefit rather than overtime pay or direct compensation for unused leave. Civil servants who cannot use all their annual leave because of work demands can still claim cash compensation for up to 20 unused days beyond the required 10 days.
The Cabinet has approved keeping the current rules from 2026 through 2028. The personnel administration said the program is generally reviewed every three years, per FTV News.
The National Travel Card program began in 2003 to encourage civil servants to take vacations and support domestic tourism. Critics say the program has since moved away from its original purpose.
Former Minister without Portfolio Chang Ching-sen (張景森), opposition lawmakers, and civil servant groups have called for changes to the system. Their proposals include easing spending restrictions, raising the subsidy, or replacing the card with cash payments.
Some civil servants also question whether the card still encourages tourism. They say the subsidy is often spent on hotel vouchers, meals, or everyday goods instead.
