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Taiwan labor minister opposes Uber Eats, foodpanda merger
Taiwan’s labor minister opposes the Uber Eats and foodpanda merger, citing concerns for delivery workers’ rights. The Ministry of Labor has informed the Fair Trade Commission.
2024/10/16 14:04
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Taiwan revises guidelines for migrant worker rights
Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor revises guidelines to protect migrant workers’ rights during pregnancy and child-rearing. Employers can access support services.
2024/10/08 10:21
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Taiwan bans recruitment fees for migrant workers
Taiwan bans brokers from charging recruitment fees to migrant workers, ensuring fair treatment and simplifying employer changes. Learn about new labor measures and protections.
2024/09/26 15:43
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Foreign fishermen forced into unpaid leave, official says
Discover how Control Yuan member Chi Hui-jung criticizes the Ministry of Labor and New Taipei City Government for neglecting foreign fishermen’s rights, leading to unpaid leave and poor living conditions.
2024/09/05 14:19
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Taiwan’s maritime union secures historic strike right
Discover the historic first strike in Taiwan’s maritime industry as the China Steel Express Union secures the legal right to strike, citing grievances over the treatment of Taiwanese seafarers. Learn about the union’s demands, the company’s response, and ongoing negotiations.
2024/09/03 08:25
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Labor groups demand end to mandatory retirement age
Legislative Yuan reviews changes to the Labor Standards Act that could affect retirement ages. Labor groups demand more autonomy for workers.
2024/07/12 13:55
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Taiwan expands maternal health rules to smaller firms
Discover how Taiwan’s new maternal health regulations, effective July 1, will impact businesses with 50-99 employees, including mandatory health assessments for pregnant or postpartum women.
2024/06/28 22:30
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Labor minister unveils plan to save Taiwan’s pension system
Discover how Taiwan’s government plans to secure the future of its labor insurance fund, with a NT$120 billion allocation to address financial shortfalls and ensure sustainability for millions of workers.
2024/05/23 14:19
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Thousands march in Taipei for Labour Day rights
Discover the key issues raised during the Labour Day march in Taipei, where 4,000 rallied for better labor rights, criticizing low wages and long hours. Learn about their demands for the incoming government.
2024/05/01 17:44
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Taiwan’s president-elect vows to boost worker rights
Discover how Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te pledges to enhance labor rights, promote economic growth, and improve work-life balance for families, starting with a flexible parental leave trial in June.
2024/05/01 14:55
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82% of Taiwan employees worked unpaid overtime, survey finds
Discover the alarming trend in Taiwan’s workforce where 70% of employees are virtually on call 24/7, with a significant portion working unpaid overtime, as revealed by a Yes123 survey. This situation has led to an indirect salary reduction of 11.6% for many, exacerbated by the constant connectivity enabled by smartphones.
2024/04/30 13:17
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Taiwan takes step towards international human rights norms
Taiwan intends to follow the U.S. lead and outlaw the import and export of goods made using forced labor. With a preliminary resolution to alter the "Human Trafficking Prevention Act" by the Ministry of the Interior to establish a legal foundation, the Executive Yuan has called for many inter-ministerial discussions. Following the amendment’s completion and implementation, the Ministry of Labor will be in charge of identifying goods made using forced labor. Border control will be managed by the Ministry of Finance’s Customs Administration. "Import and export are both prohibited. A representative of the administration stated, "The regulation is bidirectional.
2024/04/15 14:48
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Taiwan’s MOL clarifies remarks on Indian workers
The Ministry of Labor clarifies remarks about Indian migrant workers by Minister Hsu Ming-chun, emphasizing no discrimination. Taiwan and India aim to address labor shortages through a recent MOU. Taiwan’s labor policies uphold human rights and equal treatment, rejecting discrimination. The MOL promotes labor cooperation with India and urges the public to focus on constructive bilateral cooperation.
2024/03/05 10:53
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Taiwan travel agents urge for earlier pre-strike notices
The Travel Agent Association of R.O.C., Taiwan, has urged aviation unions to give a one-month notice before going on strike to mitigate social repercussions. They warned that another strike could have a devastating impact on the aviation industry. This call comes as EVA Air pilots, in collaboration with the Taoyuan Union of Pilots (TUP), have secured the right to strike. The planned strike is set for the Lunar New Year period, which is a peak travel period. The pilots aim to safeguard their rights, but the Travel Agent Association emphasized that such action would significantly affect consumers and travel agencies. They criticized past unplanned strikes by China Airlines’ cabin crew, pilots, and EVA Air’s cabin crew for disregarding consumer rights. The association emphasized the adoption of international pre-strike notice processes to allow sufficient time for negotiations and consensus-building, benefiting both consumers and labor.
2024/01/23 17:33
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Survey reveals 58% of part-timers face wage issues
58% of part-time workers in Taiwan have faced wage issues, misleading job ads, and illicit contracts, according to a survey by Yes123 Job Bank. The platform advises job hunters to follow a list of "seven don’ts" and "four musts" to protect themselves. The survey also found that a record-breaking 87% of university students plan to work part-time over the winter break, with reasons including earning living expenses and gaining social experience. Of the respondents, 65% reported receiving wages lower than the government’s minimum wage, with some not even being insured. Only about 30% actively negotiated or reported these issues. Yes123 spokesman Yang Tsung-pin urged job seekers to prioritize labor rights and work safety.
2024/01/16 17:20
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Taiwan ensures voting rights with election day off
Taiwan’s election day has been designated as a day off under the Labor Standards Act to protect workers’ voting rights. On January 13th, the 16th Presidential and Vice Presidential elections, as well as the 11th Legislative Yuan elections, will be held. Employers are required to grant a day off with regular pay to workers who have voting rights and are scheduled to work on election day. The day off is a continuous 24-hour period from midnight to noon and cannot be exchanged for another working day. If workers are needed on election day, employers must obtain their agreement and not impede their right to vote.
2024/01/06 11:23
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Ministry of Labor: Election day recognized as a holiday
Taiwan is preparing for its national elections on January 13, which has been declared a "holiday" under the Labor Standards Act. Employers are required to give workers with voting rights a day off and maintain their regular pay. If employers insist on having employees work on election day, they must provide double pay for attendance hours and cannot prevent workers from voting. The elections will determine the 16th President and Vice President of Taiwan, as well as the 11th Legislative Yuan. No additional leave is granted if the voting day falls on a worker’s regular day off. Violations of these regulations may result in fines ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$1 million, in addition to wage compensation. Workers whose rights are compromised can file complaints with the local labor administrative authority.
2024/01/03 19:44
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Labor groups criticize parties for insufficient reforms
As Taiwan’s elections approach, voter concerns over low wages and the Labor Insurance Fund’s bankruptcy are at the forefront. Labor groups criticize major parties for inadequate labor reforms, with a focus on enhancing labor rights and wages.
2023/12/29 16:55
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Taiwan Railway revamp: new era of worker rights management
Taiwan’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Wang Kwo-tsai, announced that worker rights and disputes in Taiwan Railway will be handled by a board of directors once it becomes a company on Jan. 1, 2024. This marks a departure from the current practice where the Minister has jurisdiction over such matters. The transition will be commemorated with a plaque unveiling ceremony at Taipei Station, signifying Taiwan Railway’s separation from the administrative agency Taiwan Railways Administration. Wang expressed optimism for a fresh start, including the resolution of debt, enhanced safety protocols, and more flexible systems. In response to concerns raised by the Taiwan Railway Labor Union regarding employee vacation rights and driver treatment, Wang stated that decisions will be made by Taiwan Railway as a company. Wang also addressed worries about a potential retirement wave among senior maintenance staff, emphasizing that retirement is a normal occurrence in all workplaces and that the inclusion of younger employees could lead to improved performance.
2023/12/28 16:49
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MOL urges quick passage of Taiwan minimum wage bill
The Minister of Labor, Hsu Ming-chun, expressed hope that the draft for the national minimum wage bill will soon pass its final hurdle. The Legislative Yuan is set to vote on the bill tomorrow, after failing to reach a consensus on Friday due to issues concerning the review committee’s composition, deliberation indicators, research groups, and the exclusion of law-violating companies from government procurement. Hsu emphasized the importance of a minimum wage law, which aims to elevate the legal status of the minimum wage, enhance the review mechanism, and clarify the indicators for deliberations. Hsu called for joint efforts to pass the legislation by tomorrow, as there is broad agreement on the need for a minimum wage law after years of discussion.
2023/12/11 21:23
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Control Yuan exposes truth of Taiwan’s missing migrants
The Control Yuan revealed that Taiwan has approximately 82,000 missing migrant workers, a result of low wages and labor abuse. Out of the 740,000 migrant workers in Taiwan, over 200,000 have gone missing in the last decade. Contrary to public perception, these missing workers arrived in Taiwan seeking employment opportunities but chose to disappear due to mistreatment and excessive control by their employers. A new book highlights 33 documented cases of migrant workers facing improper treatment, including threats from debt collectors and spouses remarrying due to their prolonged absence. Control Yuan members involved in the investigation emphasized the systemic issues underlying these personal struggles and questioned the government and society’s understanding of the situation. They hope the book will resonate with all sectors and prompt the government to reform the current system, protecting the rights of foreign workers and ending their suffering.
2023/12/11 20:25
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204 workers accept severance from Launch Tech after layoff
Launch Technologies Co., a golf manufacturer in Pingtung, Taiwan, has reached a severance agreement with 204 of its local workers following a layoff plan submitted last month. The company, which suffered a significant explosion at its factory in September, has also helped some employees find new jobs and provided them with generous severance pay. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has pledged to closely monitor the labor rights of the affected workers. The factory buildings remain closed and operations will only resume after third-party verification of their structural safety. Launch Technologies has established an internal legal team to compensate the impacted employees and has committed to continuing salary payments through the end of the year.
2023/12/07 14:30
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MOI reviews amendments for firefighters’ association rights
Taiwan’s Interior Minister, Lin Yu-chang, has assured public service firefighters that their demands, including the formation of unions, will be met by the government. The Ministry is considering amendments to the Civil Servant Association Act to accommodate these demands.
2023/10/04 18:31
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Executive Yuan passes Minimum Wage Bill
The Executive Yuan in Taiwan has passed a Minimum Wage Bill that is now being reviewed by the Legislative Yuan. The bill aims to improve the minimum wage review mechanism and protect the living standards of workers and their families.
2023/09/21 21:10
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Job market embraces flexibility amid Taiwan’s labor shortage
Discover the rising trend of flexible working hours in Taiwan’s job market to combat labor shortages and cater to employee preferences. Learn how this shift impacts income, job satisfaction, and concerns about stability. Government, businesses, and professionals are urged to ensure worker rights and well-being.
2023/08/21 16:59