TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei authorities confirmed on Tuesday (Dec. 24) that it received a complaint on Dec. 9, regarding a reported sexual assault involving a 17-year-old girl at a McDonald's (麥當勞) restaurant that allegedly led to her suicide. The department has demanded McDonald's submit investigation details by Friday.
The Taipei City Government's Department of Labor (北市府勞動局) initiated contact with both McDonald's and the complainant after receiving the report through the Taipei Citizen Hotline (台北市民熱線). The department explained the complainant's rights under the "Gender Equality in Employment Act" (性別平等工作法) and provided information on relevant complaint channels.
Taipei Department of Labor Commissioner Kao Boa-hua (高寶華) stated that the sexual assault case has been referred to the judicial authorities for further investigation. Once McDonald's submits its report, the bureau will conduct its inquiry into the company's obligations to prevent workplace sexual harassment.
Labor Conditions and Equal Employment Division (勞動部條平司) deputy head Wang Chin-jung (王金蓉) emphasized that McDonald's must provide psychological counseling or an apology to the victim, even though she has left her position. Employers failing to comply with these requirements may face fines up to NT$1 million and public disclosure of their business or responsible individuals' names.
>>> If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1995 to reach the Suicide Prevention Line. You can also call the Peace of Mind Line, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW ), at 1925, or the Teacher Chang Foundation at 1980 for additional resources.
