The amendment of the labor law passed the third reading after an 18-hour, overnight provisional session on January 10

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/01/13
By: Teng Pei-ju, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Eight members from the Presidential Office Human Rights

Consultative Committee submitted an article to a Taiwanese newspaper on Saturday, asking Taiwan’s Control Yuan and Ministry of Justice to file an investigation into the potential violation of human rights by the recently passed amendment of the Labor Standards Act.

The amendment of the labor law passed the third reading after an 18-hour, overnight provisional session on January 10, as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party held the majority at the Legislative Yuan.

In the article published by Apple Daily, the committee suspects that the legislative process was imprudent due to a lack of full participation and examination.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/01/13
By: Shine Chen and Ko Lin

Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Chinese authorities recently smashed a telecommunication fraud

ring led by Taiwanese, which is believed to have defrauded 28.33 million yuan (US$4.38 million) from victims, according to a Chinese news report on Saturday.

A total of 14 people, including eight from Taiwan, were arrested by police across China between July and October last year, a China Central Television (CCTV) report said.

They also froze 33 million yuan in 320 bank accounts allegedly set up by the ring to launder the proceeds of its criminal activities in China and Taiwan.

About 4.72 million yuan of the stolen money has so far been traced to specific victims.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-01-11

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Thursday that it has attempted without

success to seek consultation with China over new flight paths in the Taiwan Strait. The MAC is the government’s main agency charting China policy.

MAC spokesperson Chiu Chui-cheng said Taiwan has urged the Chinese side to consult with Taiwan in line with a March 2015 consensus on matters relating to civil aviation. He said Beijing’s only response was a fax sent on January 6 stating that its new flight paths are in international airspace. It did not address Taiwan’s stated concerns over the move.

Beijing recently announced four new flight paths that approach the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Chiu said the move was unilateral and presented concerns for aviation safety for which the Chinese side should bear responsibility.    [FULL  STORY]

More than 40 pieces of photography are being displayed at the center, and each work represents the photographer’s love for the beautiful island

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/01/11
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Yushan National Park Headquarters is holding a photography

exhibition on Taiwan’s beautiful scenery and ecology at Shueili Visitor Center from January to June 30.

More than 40 pieces of photography are being displayed at the center, and each work represents the photographer’s love for the beautiful island, the headquarters said in a news release, adding that the subjects of the exhibiting photography works are mainly Taiwan’s scenery and natural ecology that includes vegetation and birds. Members of the public and organizations such as schools are welcome to visit, the headquarters added.

The headquarters said that the exhibition consists of works from members of a photography association in Nantou County. Members of the association spend their leisure time using their cameras to capture the country’s beautiful mountains, forests, rivers, and sea.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/01/11
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Ko Lin

Taipei, Jan. 11 (CNA) Taiwan is determined to promote the development of its

indigenous defense industry while at the same time maintaining stable relations with and making major weapons acquisitions from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Thursday.

Last year, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated her pledge to boost Taiwan’s defense budget by at least 2 percent per year in an effort to build a strong defense force, MND spokesman Chen Chung-ji (陳中吉) said during a press event.

Furthermore, the foreign ministry will also work to maintain positive and stable relations with the U.S. in order to acquire defense equipment and services, Chen said.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: January 10, 2018

President Tsai Ing-wen called on Canada to back Taiwan’s inclusion in the second round of entry talks for the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, citing Taiwan’s commitment to fostering regional and international cooperation and free trade.

In addition to sharing the values of democracy, freedom and cultural diversity, both countries also enjoy robust economic ties, Tsai said, noting that Taiwan is Canada’s 11th largest trading partner. In 2016, trade between the two nations amounted to US$5 billion, she added.

As the second largest economy of the 11 CPTPP member states, Canada could help pave the way to regional prosperity by backing Taiwan’s inclusion, Tsai said. The president also expressed hope that both sides can initiate negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-01-10

The legislature passed controversial new revisions to the labor law early Wednesday

morning. The revisions are meant to alter earlier changes to Taiwan’s labor law that came into effect at the beginning of last year, changes that business leaders had said were difficult to implement.  The revisions have been at the center of recent protests organized by workers and labor activists.

Changes include doubling the maximum number of consecutive days employees can work without a day off from six to twelve under certain conditions. In addition, employers will also be allowed to reduce rest times between shifts from eleven hours to eight hours. Meanwhile, the number of hours overtime allowed per month has been extended from 46 hours to 54 hours, with a cap of 138 hours within three months.

On Wednesday, Premier William Lai sought to reassure workers about the revisions.
[FULL  STORY]