Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/12./26
By: Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) The Dispatched Workers Union (DWU) on Thursday staged a protest in Taipei over a decision by state-run Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) to fire about 200 dispatched workers before the end of the year, in the wake of government policy to stop hiring such workers in government agencies and state-run companies.

Staging a protest outside the the Executive Yuan, DWU Secretary-General Shih Shih-ching (施士青) said former premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) announced in 2018 that the government would no longer use brokers to hire dispatched and contract workers, but would instead hire them directly to better protect their rights.

That decision was made to safeguard the interests of government contract workers, as they are usually hired via manpower agencies and do not enjoy the same protections as full-time employees.

In compliance with that policy, Taipower decided it would not extend contracts with 200 dispatched workers who work as engineers for the company, some for as long as 10-20 years, according to the union.    [FULL  STORY]