Plastics worker's protest develops a dramatic twist

An unemployed plastics-industry worker threatened to jump from an 11th-floor office building facing the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) office yesterday. But her histrionics failed to soften the stance of EPA chief Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), who is determined to carry out the policy that limits the use of plastic materials used by stores and food outlets.

A demonstration by plastics- industry workers started out as a peaceful sit in on Wednesday, but culminated in chaos yesterday when a female worker threatened to commit suicide.

"EPA head Hau doesn't want to face us. I feel so exhausted and hopeless," said Wu Shu-ling (吳淑玲), who appeared disappointed after the police stopped her apparent suicide attempt.

Wu, 36 and a mother of two children, had participated in the sit-in protest for three days. She said her monthly salary has been cut down to about NT$ 10,000 due to the implementation of the plastics policy.

Currently, she works two days a week and her husband in the same industry faces the same situation.

"I even need to ask for help from my parents," Wu said.

Yesterday morning, dozens of protesters spending their second night in front of the EPA office building were joined by more than 100 affected workers.

TSU lawmaker Liao Ben-yan (廖本煙) visited protesters sitting in front of the EPA to express his support. Liao said he regretted seeing Hau's reluctance to face challenges caused by the poorly designed environmental policy.

Hau yesterday again refused to communicate with protesters face-to-face, choosing instead to use a press conference to express his resolution to implement the policy.

Hau said he regretted seeing the protesters acting irrationally.

"We don't communicate with affected workers unless they remain rational," Hau said.

EPA officials reiterated that the Cabinet was spending money to soften the impact of the policy on the plastics industry.

For example, NT$100 million had been allocated to help affected companies pay part of the accrued interest on outstanding bank loans. In addition, the Cabinet will spend NT$1.58 billion this year to create 8,400 jobs for laid-off workers. So far, 19 affected workers have been successfully transferred to either recycling or dining-utensil-cleaning industries, officials said.

Affected workers, however, were disappointed by the EPA's reaction.

"We rationally invited Hau to a public debate on the policy but were rejected," Chang Wen-wei (張文緯), a representative of unemployed workers, said.

Claiming that the implementation of the policy would lead to the loss of 50,000 jobs nation-wide, Chang said that workers would demonstrate again in March to challenge the EPA.

People who have been fined for not complying with the new measures are invited to join the demonstration, Chang said.

Last month the EPA began issuing warnings to businesses that violate the policy. Fines of at least NT$60,000 will dished out to those who continue to ignore the law.