TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's centrist opposition party launched a scathing attack on the ruling government Friday (May 9), accusing it of exploiting the island's workforce through holiday reductions and inadequate compensation policies. The Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨), a relatively new political force founded in 2019, condemned the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) administration for previously eliminating seven public holidays, characterizing the policy as worker suppression. TPP officials employed harsh rhetoric, labeling Taiwan a "sweatshop island" suffering from a combination of extended work hours and insufficient wages.
Taiwan's parliament, the Legislative Yuan (立法院), recently approved amendments to the "Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays" (紀念日及節日實施條例), establishing four additional public holidays across the calendar year. The newly designated dates include Lunar New Year's Eve, Confucius' Birthday on Sept. 28, Taiwan's Retrocession Day and the Battle of Guningtou on Oct. 25, and Constitution Day on Dec. 25. Despite the bill's passage, TPP representatives alleged that DPP legislators had tried to obstruct the legislation, reportedly arguing there was "lack of consensus" and suggesting that "commemoration doesn't necessarily require a holiday."
The TPP leadership cast doubt on the ruling party's dedication to labor advocacy, suggesting the DPP had abandoned earlier promises regarding workers' right to public holidays. Their criticism extended to claims that the government prioritizes political maneuvering over substantive labor reforms affecting millions of workers. The opposition party specifically targeted the last three individuals to head Taiwan's labor ministry — Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春), Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊), and current Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) — characterizing them as politically motivated appointments lacking the necessary professional background to effectively advocate for workers' rights. ★
