‘WORST’ BILL:Protesters said the proposal would raise the cap on the number of consecutive work days while lowering the minimum rest time between shifts
Taipei Times
Date: Nov 10, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter
Hundreds of workers and representatives of dozens of labor rights groups yesterday
Members of workers’ unions and other labor groups burn a banner printed with the Cabinet’s proposed amendments to the Labor Standards Act during a protest outside the Executive Yuan in Taipei yesterday.
Photo: CNA
rallied in front of the Executive Yuan in Taipei to protest proposed amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法), which they said would set back working conditions by 30 years.
The proposal is the “worst” piece of labor legislation as it would raise the ceiling on the number of consecutive working days from six to 12 days, while allowing industries to lower the minimum rest time between shifts from 11 hours to eight hours, they said.
The amendment runs counter to President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) pledges to lower overall working hours while increasing salary levels, protesters said.
Medical Industries Union chairperson Chen Yu-feng (陳玉鳳) said medical professionals are regularly overworked and sleep-deprived as they are rarely allowed proper rest time between shifts, and the amendment would worsen their working conditions.
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