TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese businesses, particularly in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, commonly require employees to work overtime. In 2021, the manufacturing industry saw a boom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with overtime hours per person per month reaching 15 to 16 hours.
Although overtime decreased in late 2022, it has been rising for seven consecutive months since July 2023. In January this year, overtime hours surged to 15.3 hours per person, marking a yearly increase of 2.2 hours.
Professor Lee Chien-hung from Chinese Culture University's Department of Labor and Human Resources noted, "As inventory depletes, production ramps up, increasing workload and hours."
Overtime is particularly prevalent in Taiwan's "3K" jobs—deemed dirty, dangerous, and difficult. Addressing this requires more workers, yet labor shortages make it challenging to attract new hires.
Lin Shu-yu, a human resources manager, observed that younger workers increasingly resist overtime, exacerbating labor shortages in critical sectors. As the global economy recovers post-pandemic, labor shortages have worsened, leading to more overtime.
Job banks suggest transparency about overtime during hiring to attract new employees. With younger workers valuing work-life balance, increased overtime could lead to higher turnover and waning enthusiasm.
