Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) yesterday urged the Council of Labor Affairs to determine whether the death of a Filipino worker and illnesses of two more might be work-related.
The NGOs also said the council should ensure that compensation was given to the workers, if they were entitled to it.
In June, a young Filipino worker suddenly died while working in the Chung Hwa Chemical Industrial Works Ltd (
Within a week of the worker's death, Danilo Tagatac, another Filipino worker at the same plant, began to exhibit symptoms similar to those of his former colleague. After medical examination, the worker was diagnosed with acute hepatitis and his doctors concluded his case was "possibly" an occupation-related illness.
Not long after the second case, a third Filipino worker at the plant was also found to have skin rashes which have been assessed as chemically induced.
While the two migrant workers were waiting for the council to determine if their illnesses were work-related -- which would allow them to collect labor insurance compensation -- the broker of one of the Filipinos allegedly attempted to repatriate him. The attempt was, however, stopped by the council.
The council, which has yet to reveal the results of its investigation, has arranged a meeting between the affected workers and their employer, in which an agreement was reached that the two Filipinos could be transferred to new employers.
Nevertheless, during the meeting in early September, the two workers' doctors overturned their previous statement concerning their illness, claiming that Tagatac had been suffering from hepatitis E instead, which was caused by viral infection, instead of "chemical hepatitis."
The local NGOs, including Ching-jen Occupational Health and Safety Center, the Labor Rights Association, and the Female Labor Rights Association, raised doubts about these recent developments in the case to the council yesterday. The NGOs said they were worried the migrant workers' rights were not being properly protected.
According to the groups, the question whether the workers' illnesses are work-related or not is crucial to determining compensation issues for the workers.
Also, a diagnosis of hepatitis E would provide the pretext to immediately repatriate the Filipinos, and would make it possible for the employer and the authorities concerned to avoid all responsibility and international censure, they claimed.
Under the considerations, the groups called on the council yesterday to release its findings in the case as soon as possible to determine whether the workers' illness is occupationally related or not.
Moreover, they also required the CLA would allow the migrant workers, who are now staying at the Hope Center in Taoyuan, to be transferred to new employers as soon as possible.
In response, CLA officials alleged the cause of the two workers' disease is still under investigation and so far it no conclusions have been reached. But the officials promised the council will allow transfer of the workers to new employers within 10 days or so.
RSS