Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-01-20
The amendment to the Labor Standards Act is the second major revision to Taiwan’s labor policies under President Tsai Ing-wen. Officials say it is aimed at developing the nation’s economy and increasing flexibility. But the changes have not been well received among many workers. Before the revisions, the act mandated a five-day workweek, with one mandatory day off and one ‘rest day’ on which employees could still be asked to work, but in exchange for overtime pay or another day off later.
With the new revision to the act, however, the total number of hours and days employees can be asked to work has gone up. Workers can be expected to work for up to twelve consecutive days without a day off. In addition, the revised act raises the cap on the maximum overtime hours employees can work each month from 46 to 54, as long as they do not work more than 138 hours in any three month period. The revised act also allows businesses to cut minimum rest times between shifts for workers from eleven hours to eight, though with the caveat that the business owners have the consent of employees or workers unions. [FULL STORY]