TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) stated on Thursday (Feb. 6) that Kinbus' (國光客運) recent delay in salary payments might lead to fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$1 million, with potential increases to NT$1.5 million for repeat offenses.
Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛), director of the MOL's Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment (勞動部勞動條件及就業平等司), emphasized the legal obligation for employers to pay wages on the agreed date, regardless of operational challenges.
Kinbus attributed the January salary delay to a pending NT$90 million government subsidy. Despite the company's assurance that payments will proceed following the subsidy release, local authorities will investigate potential labor law violations.
The company announced that the subsidy process, affected by procedural issues, would be completed by Feb. 20. The Highway Bureau (公路局) confirmed that Kinbus' internal delays prevented timely subsidy application and pledged to expedite the process.
