Dozens of labor groups took to the streets of Taipei to call for better workplace protections on Labor Day. The country has some of the longest average working hours in the world, and workers are also calling for better wages and more annual leave, including national holidays.
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00:00Thousands of people representing dozens of labor unions and NGOs marched on Labor Day
00:11around Taiwan's presidential office in Taipei. They included workers from the manufacturing,
00:16medical and banking sectors calling for better workplace protections, including changes to the
00:22Labor Standards Act for benefits like more flexible time off, more national holidays and
00:27even four-day work weeks. In 2023, Taiwanese workers ranked fifth overall for working the longest hours
00:34compared to other developed countries. And those in the care services industry say
00:38long hours take a toll on their mental and physical health and affects the quality of their work.
00:57Stagnant wages is another issue that some essential workers say drive many out
01:04of the care industry.
01:18Another top concern, workplace bullying, after several high-profile incidents in recent years,
01:29including at the labor ministry itself, that have led to suicides. Taiwan's labor laws currently do
01:34not address reporting workplace bullying and harassment. But according to the latest poll,
01:39more than 70 percent of the public say they've experienced bullying in the workplace. And with
01:44these cases happening in the upper echelons of the government itself, these labor unions can't help
01:49but ask, how much will it take for the government to enact change?
02:10At a cabinet meeting on Labor Day, the head of the Labor Ministry's Occupational Safety and Health
02:15Administration came out with a list of improvements the government aims to make.
02:38Also at issue, rights for civil servants. Under current law, civil service workers are not allowed to form
02:43unions for collective bargaining and are forbidden from going on strike. Labor advocates say this puts
02:49them at a disadvantage. Taiwan has made strides in labor rights in the past few years, including
02:55improvements to the national holiday system. But without legal protections against workplace bullying,
03:00long working hours and stagnant wages, workers here will continue calling for more action.
03:06Client Wong, Chris Ma, Reese Ayers, and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.