The China Post
Date: November 5, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Seven labor representatives began a hunger strike in protest of a controversial
A dozen Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers occupy the legislative speaker’s seat on Friday, Nov. 4, effectively gridlocking the general assembly’s legislative proceedings. (CNA)
workweek bill on Friday.
The government is seeking to make revisions to the Labor Standards Act in order to implement two mandatory days off per week.
But the reforms would also see the elimination of seven statutory public holidays, a development that has drawn the ire of student and labor representatives.
The bill passed a preliminary review by the Legislature’s Health and Welfare Committee on Oct. 5, triggering month-long protests from civic organizations.
The hunger strike comes with fears lawmakers will process the disputed bill on the floor of the legislature on Nov. 8, with the one-month period for cross-party negotiations set to expire over the weekend.
It is still possible the bill could sit through another month under review by the cross-party negotiation mechanism, before being put to a vote on the floor of the legislature. [FULL STORY]
