00:002,030 hours. That's the average number of hours Taiwanese workers put in during 2024,
00:08second only to Singapore and Asia. But could we see a change? As workers are putting greater
00:14value on work-life balance, a proposal calling for a four-day work week was submitted on Taiwan's
00:20public policy platform, sparking debates.
00:30Taiwan's labor ministry has responded to the petition. It says, considering Taiwanese workers'
00:41income, industry differences, service models, staffing needs, and the overall economy,
00:48the priority for now should be making sure the current two-day weekend system is properly
00:52implemented, while encouraging companies and staffers to negotiate flexible work hours that
00:59better meet employees' needs. Experts say that if workloads don't go down, a four-day work week
01:05could just mean cramming five days of work into four, and still working overtime.
01:09So there's no doubt that it's not a problem, it's a problem of work, or a problem of our society.
01:17I think it's possible that it can talk, it can talk about a discussion, but it can become a
01:23system. Some countries have legally allowed or tested four-day work weeks, though most implement
01:31them through flexible or compress hour arrangements, rather than a universal four-day rule for all
01:37workers. Experts say that while the law can set standards without social consensus and trust
01:43between employers and workers, it could end up being meaningless or even backfire. Ryan Wu and
01:49Ellen Lu for Taiwan Plus.
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