TAIPEI (TVBS News) — EVA Air (長榮航空) faced mounting scrutiny Tuesday (Oct. 14) over workplace policies after a flight attendant died following a Milan flight Saturday. The Taoyuan City Labor Inspection Office (桃園市勞檢處) confirmed the crew member had flown an average of 75 hours monthly over the past six months. Labor officials reported the company granted leave according to regulations, though union leaders questioned broader workplace practices affecting crew health and safety.
Chou Sheng-kai (周聖凱), secretary-general of the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union (桃園市空服員職業工會), criticized EVA Air's leave policies during Tuesday's press conference, claiming "systemic workplace issues." He argued that sick leave penalties affecting shift selection and bonuses create dangerous conditions, forcing crew members to work while ill. Chou called the airline's current policies "extremely unreasonable" and demanded immediate comprehensive improvements to protect worker health and safety.
Taiwan's labor regulations guarantee sick leave rights for injuries and illnesses, with different wage allowances for hospitalized and non-hospitalized cases, ensuring worker compensation. The law explicitly prohibits employers from penalizing workers for taking official leave, including sick leave, to protect employee health and financial security. EVA Air's policies potentially violate these fundamental labor protections by linking sick leave to shift selection penalties and bonus reductions.
The Labor Inspection Office documented seven labor law violations by EVA Air since 2023, with the most recent penalty being a NT$1 million (around US$32,590) fine imposed on July 1. Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) confirmed the airline's persistent history of workplace violations affecting employee rights and safety. Hung publicly urged EVA Air to address employee demands honestly and earnestly while implementing comprehensive policy reforms.
