00:06This is Yang Li Jun, a pioneer in Taiwan's women's movement,
00:10reflecting on what it was like for women in the workplace in the 1980s.
00:15Despite Taiwan now being known as one of the most gender equal societies in Asia,
00:20the reality less than 40 years ago was very different,
00:24with many women forced to leave their jobs once they turned 30,
00:28or if they got pregnant.
00:48Up until the 1980s, there were no laws protecting a woman's right to work.
00:53But in 1987, female workers, civic groups and lawyers came together to draft their own legislation,
01:01taking the matter into their own hands.
01:05So in this process,
01:06actually everyone will start the social movement.
01:09In the outside, they will continue to talk and talk,
01:12and continue to talk,
01:13and continue to talk about the social responsibility.
01:15So they will use every year of the婦女节,
01:17to continue to talk about the human rights.
01:21So when we do the women's right to come together,
01:25and continue to talk with the women's right to talk,
01:29and continue to talk about the elementos.
01:30We want to talk about the relationship with the women's right to be in the public.
01:35So we all have a lot of women
01:37So we all have a lot of women
01:39So every time we vote
01:40Or even in the other place
01:41We will say what are the promises
01:45So we will say
01:46Women's team
01:47So we hope that you will be able to vote
01:50So here is the President
01:51He said if I vote
01:54I will let the
01:57So in 2000
02:00So he will vote
02:01He first
02:02The first one is
02:04Where do you have to vote
02:06That law was finally enacted
02:09On March 8, 2002
02:11It protects equal employment rights
02:13And prohibits gender discrimination
02:15And sexual harassment in the workplace
02:17The law was the first
02:19To be drafted by civil society groups
02:21Showing how the women's movement
02:23Was an essential part of Taiwan's democracy movement
02:27So actually these
02:28I think that
02:30The women's movement
02:31Actually just from
02:32To deal with something
02:34And then to deal with the problem
02:36Then they will decide to deal with the problem
02:39That's the way the women's movement
02:40So it will become a new generation
02:42So we say Taiwan's democracy
03:08Since the legislation was passed
03:11Women's participation in the labor force
03:13Has steadily increased
03:15In the 1980s
03:16Women's employment rate was around 40%
03:19By January 2026
03:21It has risen to more than 52%
03:25And increased participation
03:27Is changing culture norms in the workplace
03:29If you guys want to hear
03:30Let me tell you
03:30Yes, I know
03:31I'm so sorry
03:33Has there been a couple of women
03:36That's been a great deal
03:36That's a great deal
03:37That's a great deal
03:38That's a great deal
03:39That's a great deal
03:40That's a great deal
03:41That's really great.
04:07But despite this, women still face challenges in the workplace.
04:12As of 2026, the gender pay gap means a woman would have to work an extra 59 days
04:18to earn the same average annual salary as a man.
04:22Women also make up the majority of those taking unpaid parental leave.
04:26Look at the company and companies.
04:28They will use women.
04:30But you can see the highest level of women are women.
04:33You have to make your own ability.
04:35You have to make your own ability.
04:36If you have the ability, you won't be able to see you.
04:38You are so great.
04:40And you have to have a sense of no-one-fielder.
04:44My story is about this.
04:51Justine Wu and Ting Ye for Taiwan Plus.
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