TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's workplace sexual harassment problem has come into sharper focus as the Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) unveiled troubling statistics spanning a ten-month period ending in December 2024. Officials reported Thursday (April 10) that authorities processed 1,577 harassment complaints nationwide, with investigators substantiating 949 cases — a confirmation rate of approximately 60 percent. The findings resulted in 127 perpetrators losing their jobs, with the vast majority of incidents — 77.6 percent — occurring in private sector workplaces compared to 22.4 percent in government agencies.
The demographic analysis revealed a stark gender disparity, with women filing 88.6 percent of all complaints, predominantly from those between 25 and 44 years old. Nearly three-quarters of cases — 74.3 percent — involved hostile work environments rather than quid pro quo harassment. Physical misconduct constituted 66 percent of reported incidents, while verbal harassment appeared in 47.2 percent of complaints. Contrary to common assumptions about power dynamics, 72.9 percent of perpetrators held no supervisory authority over their victims. Manufacturing workplaces generated the highest incident rate at 21 percent, followed by government administration at 13.8 percent and healthcare settings at 12 percent.
Wang Chin-jung (王金蓉), who serves as deputy director of the Labor Conditions and Equal Employment Division (勞動條件及就業平等司), observed that most employers respond to confirmed harassment by issuing warnings and mandating additional training rather than termination. "Employers must implement immediate and effective corrective measures while ensuring victims receive proper counseling and psychological support," Wang emphasized during the briefing. The ministry has intensified its prevention campaign with 26 educational sessions planned nationwide in coming months. Officials also announced an extension to April 30 for private organizations to apply for government subsidies supporting workplace harassment prevention initiatives.
