TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's workforce received welcome news Friday (May 9) as legislators approved legislation that will add four new paid holidays to the national calendar, a significant expansion of leisure time for the island's 23 million residents. The Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, passed the final reading of the "Implementation Act of Commemorative and Festival Days" (紀念日及節日實施條例), legislation designed to strengthen the legal foundation for national observances while addressing long-standing demands for improved work-life balance.
The legislation elevates Labor Day to a guaranteed holiday for all sectors, addressing previous inconsistencies in its observance. Four culturally significant dates gain official recognition: Lunar New Year's Eve, a critical family reunion day in Chinese tradition; Sept. 28 honoring Confucius (孔子), the influential philosopher whose teachings shaped East Asian societies; Oct. 25 commemorating Taiwan's Retrocession Day and the Battle of Guningtou (台灣光復暨金門古寧頭大捷紀念日), marking the island's return to Chinese control after Japanese colonial rule; and Dec. 25 for Constitution Day (行憲紀念日). This expansion increases Taiwan's national holidays from 11 to 15 annually.
In a significant advancement for Taiwan's aboriginal communities, the legislation grants Indigenous groups autonomy to select three days for traditional ceremonies, replacing the previous system where a single day was designated by the Council of Indigenous Peoples (原民會), the government agency overseeing Indigenous affairs. The law also establishes several symbolic observances including National Equality Day (民族平等紀念日) on March 21, Freedom of Speech Day (言論自由日) on April 7, and Indigenous Resistance Day (原住民族抵抗日) on June 16, acknowledging historical struggles of Taiwan's native populations.
The legislation will be implemented immediately after receiving presidential approval, with Taiwanese citizens set to enjoy three additional days off during the remaining months of 2025. This swift implementation reflects the government's acknowledgment of strong public support for expanded leisure time in a society that has historically maintained one of Asia's most demanding work cultures. ★
