TPP: Lai Hsiang-ling, Taipei’s Labor Director, Hopes to Push for Progressive Bills

The News Lens interviewed Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶), the top party list candidate for Taiwan People's Party. She's a longtime labor rights activist since the 1990s and she has been heading Taipei's Department of Labor since 2014. What does she hope to achieve in the legislature if she's elected?

The News Lens
Date: 2020/01/07
By: Nicole Lee

A veteran labor rights activist, Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶) has participated in various union strikes since the 1990s. In 2014, she was elected to head Taipei's Department of Labor. Compared to the department of labor commissioners in other cities, Lai appears to be extremely progressive and energetic. Some have even jokingly praised her as "the only department of labor commissioner in all of Taiwan."

In 2019, after Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je established his Taiwan People's Party (TPP), Lai was named as TPP's top party list candidate for the upcoming elections. Aside from improving Taiwan's labor conditions, what else does Lai want to accomplish in the legislature?

TNL: Why did you decide to run in the legislative election as a TPP candidate? Were you hesitant about your decision?

L: Yes! I thought I was just going to fulfill my time at the department of labor when Mayor Ko first asked me in August. But I didn't consider what he said seriously until October. I agree with the mayor in building a trustworthy government, and we both want to achieve more in terms of execution. So I started to think about whether we should revise some existing laws or suggest new legislations.
[FULL  STORY]