TAIPEI (TVBS News) — According to the Ministry of Labor 2023 report, Taiwan recorded 43 employment discrimination violations in 2023, resulting in fines totaling NT$9.2 million. Gender discrimination accounted for most of the violations, with penalties reaching NT$6.25 million.
Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛), head of the Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment (勞動條件及就業平等司), urges employers to avoid discrimination based on gender or age in hiring and employment practices on Friday (July 12).
Huang stated that current labor laws, including the Employment Services Act (就業服務法), the Act of Gender Equality in Employment (性別平等工作法), and the Middle-aged and Elderly Employment Promotion Act (中高齡者及高齡者就業促進法), explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender and age.
Employment age discrimination can occur in various stages, such as job advertisements, interviews, performance appraisals, promotions, transfers or training, employment terms and conditions, organizational downsizing, retirement policies, and grievance procedures. Job seekers or employees who encounter discrimination can file a complaint with local authorities.
After receiving a complaint, local authorities will convene an Employment Discrimination Review Committee to assess the case. If confirmed, the employer faces fines ranging from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million, and their name will be publicly disclosed. Last year, violations included nine cases under the Employment Services Act, resulting in NT$2.55 million in fines, and two cases under the Middle-aged and Elderly Employment Promotion Act, with fines of NT$400,000.
Gender equality violations comprised 32 cases, with fines totaling NT$6.25 million. Common violations included job advertisements specifying gender preferences, adverse treatment of female workers due to pregnancy or childcare, and layoffs targeting female employees. Huang urged employers to focus on talent and avoid imposing job restrictions unrelated to specific tasks to foster a supportive workplace environment.
