TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Legislative Yuan (立法院) plans to conduct second and third readings of proposed amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) on Friday (July 12). These amendments would allow employers to delay mandatory retirement ages for workers through mutual agreement.
Several labor groups held a press conference before the Legislative Yuan, urging lawmakers to abolish employer-mandated retirement ages. They argued that workers should have the autonomy to decide when to retire.
Chuang Fu-kai (莊福凱), a member of the Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信) union, highlighted that many workers over 65 continue working due to economic pressure. He cited examples from the United States, Japan, and South Korea, where workers often remain employed past 65 for financial reasons.
Chuang expressed concerns about the proposed amendments. He stated that workers are already at a disadvantage in terms of economic and bargaining power in Taiwan; if the law only allows for delayed retirement through employer-worker negotiations, the right to initiate retirement still lies with the employer, which is unfavorable for protecting workers' job security.
Labor groups continue to push for legislative changes that empower workers to make retirement decisions. The outcome of readings in the Legislative Yuan could significantly impact the future of Taiwan's labor policies.
