Politics

Taiwan's labor law revisions take effect May 1

• Publication Date：05/02/2011
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Meg Chang

Revisions to three ROC labor laws that took effect May 1 will offer greater protection to the country’s millions of workers, the Council of Labor Affairs said.

According to the CLA, the changes cover amendments to the Collective Bargaining Agreement Act, Settlement of Labor Disputes Act and Labor Union Act.

As opposed to the previous rules that required unions be formed only by employees working in the same company, “the new rules allow workers at different firms to organize unions, thus giving them more collective bargaining power,” CLA Deputy Minister Pan Shih-wei said.

“Foreign workers will also be allowed to serve as union leaders,” the official said, adding that the CLA will offer financial subsidies to encourage the formation of unions countrywide.

In addition, school teachers, previously listed as a special class of workers and thus not covered by the Labor Union Act, can also organize unions with the regulatory easing, Pan pointed out.

According to sources familiar with the issue, electronics and electrical workers in the Hsinchu Science Park and employees in the telecommunications sector are considering making the move, while teachers in New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung cities all created their own labor unions May 1.

The CLA deputy minister urged corporate management teams to respond positively to employees’ decision to form labor unions. Any mistreatment to workers participating in these activities and violation of their rights are subject to strict penalties, he added. (HZW)

Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw