Thousands of workers yesterday took to the streets in Taipei for the 12th annual Autumn March to protest against increasing unemployment, finishing their demonstration by throwing more than 70 tonnes of garbage in front of the Presidential Office.
"Garbage is dirty and useless, but the government's failure to protect workers' rights is worse than garbage," a statement by the workers said.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"To protest against the government assisting enterprises with their difficulties while unfairly ignoring workers' interests, we decided to curse the government with the dirtiest garbage," the statement added.
With Taiwan's unemployment rate at 5.2 percent, some 2,000 demonstrators, including 10 to 20 foreign workers, carried banners with the slogan "Can't afford to exist, Anti-penniless."
The march began with the lighting of firecrackers in front of the Council of the Labor Affairs (CLA) as demonstrators demanded the council's chairwoman, Chen Chu (
During the four-hour demonstration, workers said the CLA has ignored their six main complaints. Demonstrators say they can't afford to live, have children, educate their children, get old, fall ill or pay for housing because of misguided government policies.
"Chen Chu never offered any effective solutions to our problems, but only shifted responsibility to other ministries. She should step down," the press release said.
Among the thousands of demonstrators, Shih Yung-en (
"I had tried to seek help from the CLA many times. But I just gave up after they kept returning my application," Shih said.
The former construction worker said that he is worried about his children's education and hopes that he would be permitted to stop paying the health insurance fee.
As well as Shih, Yang Hsiu-hsiung (
Yang said his salary has dropped below NT$5,000 a month recently and is demanding that the CLA help workers receive the legal monthly minimum wage of NT$15,840.
Some demonstrators didn't have any specific complaint, but wanted to amplify the voice of labor.
"This is a special date for workers. We attend the event to show the strength of workers," said Lai Hsiu-hsin (
Lo Ying-yin (
Lo was able to find a job early this year.
The CLA said ahead of the event that only the vice-premier's office is entitled to react to the demonstrators' complaints as "the six main complaints relate to several ministries' business."
However the vice premier's office didn't respond to the complaints yesterday.
Two DPP legislators, Lee Ming-hsien (
Organizers dismissed the claim as ridiculous.
The Autumn March was launched by the Committee for Action for Labor Legislation (工人立法行動委員會) 12 years ago. The event is intended to remind the government of the kind of difficulties workers face every year.
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