The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) is facing a boycott by labor groups over its "flexitime" policy, a practice which allows employers to utilize man-hours more economically, but which could also mean more stress and less pay for workers.
While yesterday marked the third month since CLA Chairman Chen Chu (
The Executive Yuan announced in mid-June that it had successfully brokered a consensus between labor groups and industry representatives to have the workweek reduced to 44 hours.
However, on the same day the KMT came up with a proposal to reduce working hours to 84 hours every two weeks. The proposal was successfully pushed through the legislature on June 17.
Industries have protested the change and vigorously lobbied to have the amendment overturned, or to at least be allowed the flexibility to arrange man-hours according to production cycles.
Such an arrangement would allow employers to concentrate work time without breaking the fortnight limitation in cases where they have to rush to meet production deadlines.
In view of strong protests from industrial leaders, the CLA is seeking adjustments that would allow this flexibility without infringing on labor rights. However, it appears little progress will be made as industry and labor groups are apparently far apart over the issue.
The nation's employers say that productivity will suffer serious setbacks when weekly working hours are reduced on Jan. 1 next year. They urged the government to propose modifications to "flexitime" legislation as a way for employers to more economically utilize the diminished man-hours.
But labor groups have condemned the flexitime proposal. They say the measures would allow employers to enforce extended working hours, which could put laborers under extreme stress and deprive them of overtime pay during extended shifts.
The CLA has scheduled three public hearings on the workweek issue, the first on Aug. 30, followed by others on Sept. 4 and Sept. 7.
Chen originally expected that the meetings would be attended by industry and labor leaders, but labor groups yesterday refused Chen's invitations, saying they feel the CLA has tilted its support in favor of employers.
"We oppose any form of conference that the government holds under pressure from the employers. And it's impossible for us labor groups to take part in the CLA's public hearings with preconditions having been laid," said Lin Hui-kuan (
With the boycott by labor groups, Chen decided yesterday to cancel the first public hearing. But she said she will continue to negotiate with the labor groups about their participation in the other two.
At a press conference, Chen mapped out the CLA's plans for the future, which include raising the quality of manpower, ensuring safe working environments and improving the well-being of laborers.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Taiwan shares the same values as those that fought in WWII, and nations must unite to halt the expansion of a new authoritarian bloc, Lai said The government yesterday held a commemoration ceremony for Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, joining the rest of the world for the first time to mark the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Taiwan honoring V-E Day signifies “our growing connections with the international community,” President William Lai (賴清德) said at a reception in Taipei on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. One of the major lessons of World War II is that “authoritarianism and aggression lead only to slaughter, tragedy and greater inequality,” Lai said. Even more importantly, the war also taught people that “those who cherish peace cannot
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies. The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Taiwan also claims the shoal. Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing. “The Chinese frigate BN 554 was
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
RSS