The News Lens
Date: 2018/01/09
By: Ting-Yu Chao

This is the latest in months of protests over the anticipated passage of revisions to a law

Credit: Chao Ting-yu

originally intended to protect workers’ rights.

“Do they only have the employers’ interests at heart?” – Taipei City Confederation of Trade Unions Director Cheng Ya-hui
Labor rights organizations and union members gathered outside the Legislative Yuan from Monday, Jan. 8, as lawmakers commenced cross-party negotiations over the contested revisions to the Labor Standards Act (LSA). The protests continued through today and are set to run “indefinitely” in line with continuing negotiations over the laws that are set to run until at least Wednesday.

Protesters have one plea: for the ruling and majority Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to hold back passing draft amendments that include controversial changes that will allow companies to compel employees to work up to 12 days in a row, as well as reduce their minimum rest time between shifts from 11 hours to eight. Activists contend this would worsen already unfavorable working conditions. The current rule requires one mandatory day off in any seven-day period.    [FULL  STORY]