Taipei Times
Date: May 01, 2015
By: Lii Wen  /  Staff reporter

Legislators from across party lines yesterday pledged support for major reforms

Activists led by the Taiwan Labour Front yesterday rally outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. Holding bright yellow umbrellas, participants arranged themselves to form the number 40 to show their support for a proposed 40-hour work week. Photo: Huang Pang-ping, Taipei Times

to shorten the legal workweek, as the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee cleared amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法).

If passed by the legislature’s plenary session later this month, the landmark piece of legislation would change regulations that define work hours as 84 hours per two weeks to 40 hours per week — effectively ensuring two days off per week.

The new policy is set to be implemented by next year and expected to benefit about 3.4 million workers in the private sector.     [FULL  STORY]