The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed an amendment to the Labor Standards Law (勞動基準法), extending the period flex-time workers are given to fulfill their work quota from two weeks to eight weeks as well as relaxing restrictions on women working at night.
Under the new regulations, employers will be able to use flexible working hours in eight-week blocks, during which an employee's maximum work-week will be 48 hours. Currently, employers use two-week blocks with employees working for a maximum of 84 hours. Following yesterday's ruling, women will also be entitled to work night shifts.
Under the current regulation, women are not allowed to work between 10pm and 6am, but the amended law states that as long as employers reach an agreement with labor organizations, women can work anytime. Pregnant workers, however, will remain prohibited.
The amended law will also entitle women to work the same length of overtime as their male counterparts. Under current rules, women are only allowed to work two hours overtime a day while men can work for three.
"The amendment will give women a better chance of finding work," said Kuo Chi-jen (郭吉仁), deputy chairman of the Council of Labor Affairs.
The amendment is based on one of the resolutions of the Economic Development Advisory Conference (EDAC) held in August last year and will take affect next year.
RSS