Chapter 4: Irrigation Management Organizations and Personnel in Farmland Water Conservancy Activities Areas
Article 18
The Competent Authority, in order to arrange for irrigation management in farmland water conservancy activities areas, may establish irrigation management organizations within its subordinate agencies, to handle the following matters:
1. Distribution and management of farmland water conservancy water.
2. Maintenance of orderly use of irrigation water and guidance of water conservancy committee affairs.
3. Construction, management, improvement, and maintenance of farmland water conservancy facilities.
4. Disaster prevention and post-disaster response measures for farmland water conservancy facilities.
5. Personnel management of professional staff in irrigation management organizations (hereafter known as farmland water conservancy personnel).
6. Management of and revenue earning from assets belonging to the Farmland Water Conservancy Activities Operational Fund.
Training and advanced study for full-time professional staff in irrigation management organizations as mentioned in the preceding Paragraph shall be handled by a juridical person set up with funding provided by the Competent Authority.
Regulations governing the establishment of irrigation management organizations as mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article, the scope of their authority, and other relevant matters shall be stipulated by the Competent Authority.
Article 19
For personnel employed by appointment by an Irrigation Association under Article 22 of this Act of Irrigation Association Organization prior to the coming into effect of this Act, the Competent Authority shall, after the coming into effect of this Act, continue to employ them as farmland water conservancy personnel; moreover, their positions should at an equivalent grade to the positions they held when originally employed by an Irrigation Association.
Recruitment and assessment of newly employed farmland water conservancy personnel in irrigation management associations as mentioned in preceding Paragraph shall be conducted by the Competent Authority.
Regulations governing farmland water conservancy personnel, , performance appraisals, incentives or punishments, retirement, dismissal, bereavement compensation, insurance, and other protections of their rights, as well as personnel management, shall be stipulated by the Competent Authority.
The provisions of the Labor Standards Act do not apply to farmland water conservancy personnel.
Article 20
For technicians, janitorial staff, contract employees whose hiring has been approved by the Competent Authority, and security personnel hired by an Irrigation Association prior to the coming into effect of this Act, subordinate agencies of the Competent Authority shall, after the coming into effect of this Act, continue to employ them, based on relevant laws and regulations and their original hiring conditions.
The Labor Standards Act does not apply to contract employees as mentioned in the preceding Paragraph.
Article 21
The Competent Authority shall invite scholars and experts, local people, and farmers who actually cultivate the land to organize farmland water conservancy advisory council in each area; the number of farmers shall not be lower than two-thirds of the council.
The water conservancy advisory councils as mentioned in the previous Paragraph may provide water supply services, mediation of disputes between farmers, and other relevant consultation services; the members of water conservancy advisory council shall be unpaid.