Yesterday's day off in Taipei was a gift to voters by Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
The Taipei City Government announced late Thursday night that workplaces and schools would be closed yesterday owing to Typhoon Sinlaku. But it turned out that the wind and rain during the daytime in the city was not as strong and heavy as expected.
Though many people were more than happy to get a day off, critics blamed the city government for making the decision too quickly.
Businesses that opted to open as usual were especially upset, as they were required to double the wages for employees who turned up for work.
Still, some people were quick to speculate that the city government's decision was related to Ma's re-election bid in December, as he might become an easy target for attack in case any resident got hurt when going to work or school in typhoon weather.
Responding to the criticism, Taipei City spokesman Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇) said the government's decision was completely professional and involved no political consideration.
Wu said the city government has made it a rule to make a decision by 10pm, based on the latest typhoon forecast released by the Central Weather Bureau, as to whether workplaces and schools will be closed for the next day.
According to the standards set down by the Central Personnel Administration, a local government can make such an announcement if the average intensity of winds caused by a typhoon are stronger than the 7th degree (15m per second) or there are gusts of over the 10th degree (25m per second).
"We think the safety of the people is most important. If there is any politicized criticism, we are ready to accept a fair judgment by the public. We believe the residents of Taipei will give us their support," Wu said.
In addition, Wu said, Taipei City was not the only locality to make the decision, noting that workplaces and schools in Taipei County, Keelung City, Taoyuan County and Ilan County were also closed.
On the complaint by employers about increased costs on typhoon days, officials at the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) said it is up to employers to decide as to whether to double the pay for employees who turn up for work on "typhoon holiday."
Also, CLA officials said a private business should set down in a labor-capital agreement as to whether their employees get days off for a typhoon as civil servants do.
In case an employer does not come to work because of a typhoon, he or she cannot be considered absent or be compelled to take official leave, officials said. But the employer can refuse to pay the worker, officials added.
RSS