00:00Thousands of people representing dozens of labor unions and NGOs marched on Labor Day
00:11around Taiwan's presidential office in Taipei. They included workers from the manufacturing,
00:16medical and banking sectors calling for better workplace protections, including changes to the
00:22Labor Standards Act for benefits like more flexible time off, more national holidays and
00:27even four-day work weeks. In 2023, Taiwanese workers ranked fifth overall for working the longest hours
00:34compared to other developed countries. And those in the care services industry say
00:38long hours take a toll on their mental and physical health and affects the quality of their work.
00:57Stagnant wages is another issue that some essential workers say drive many out
01:04of the care industry.
01:18Another top concern, workplace bullying, after several high-profile incidents in recent years,
01:29including at the labor ministry itself, that have led to suicides. Taiwan's labor laws currently do
01:34not address reporting workplace bullying and harassment. But according to the latest poll,
01:39more than 70 percent of the public say they've experienced bullying in the workplace. And with
01:44these cases happening in the upper echelons of the government itself, these labor unions can't help
01:49but ask, how much will it take for the government to enact change?
02:10At a cabinet meeting on Labor Day, the head of the Labor Ministry's Occupational Safety and Health
02:15Administration came out with a list of improvements the government aims to make.
02:38Also at issue, rights for civil servants. Under current law, civil service workers are not allowed to form
02:43unions for collective bargaining and are forbidden from going on strike. Labor advocates say this puts
02:49them at a disadvantage. Taiwan has made strides in labor rights in the past few years, including
02:55improvements to the national holiday system. But without legal protections against workplace bullying,
03:00long working hours and stagnant wages, workers here will continue calling for more action.
03:06Client Wong, Chris Ma, Reese Ayers, and Tiffany Wong in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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