TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) clarified on Monday (March 17) that reinstating seven public holidays is not a pressing issue. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) has no intention of legislating on this matter, as the current policy on commemorative days is designed to enhance labor relations.
The opposition Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislative Yuan caucus has made the "returning seven holidays to workers" bill a priority for this legislative session. The Internal Administration Committee (立院內政委員會) is currently reviewing the draft of the "Commemorative Days and Holidays Implementation Act." This act stems from the 2016 decision by the Executive Yuan, under former President Tsai Ing-wen's (蔡英文) administration, to reduce seven national holidays to achieve "national holiday consistency," a policy implemented in 2017.
The seven holidays that were abolished include the day after New Year's Day on January 2, Youth Day on March 29, Teachers' Day on Sept. 28, Taiwan Retrocession Day on Oct. 25, Chiang Kai-shek's birthday on Oct. 31, Sun Yat-sen's birthday on Nov. 12, and Constitution Day on Dec. 25. In a written report, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) detailed that the current "Commemorative Days and Holidays Implementation Measures" govern the names, dates, and methods of celebration or commemoration for these days, as well as related holiday provisions.
The Ministry emphasized that the number of holidays has significant national implications and should be subject to a thorough evaluation based on overall national interests. Any changes, they suggested, should be the result of a well-planned consensus within society.
