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Trade federation, HSBC union planning protest

Companies have developed several different ways of disguising mass layoffs, such as demotions, transfers or forcing employees to sign long-term contracts, and the National Federation of Independent Trade Unions and the HSBC Union plan to take to the streets to protest what they said was such a move by HSBC.

The protest is planned for tomorrow, but whether it will take place depends on ongoing negotiations between the company and its union.

“We have talked with the company and reached some consensus on the issue,” said Lonely Chiu (邱榮利), president of the bank’s union.

“However, because they have yet to issue a memo in writing [on the agreement], we still have to wait and see,” he said.

The trade federation and the union accuse HSBC of “disguised layoffs” of 500 employees by shutting down 11 outlets and transferring employees to different departments or branch offices in an effort to get the employees to quit voluntarily.

“After HSBC acquired Chinese Bank, HSBC went back on its promise not to lay off employees,” the statement said.

Deputy Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs Pan Shih-wei (潘世偉) said yesterday that demotions or transfers without negotiations with workers are against the law, but that mass layoffs were signs of “serious changes in the economic environment.”

Council statistics show the number of unemployed people has risen to 460,000, and the number of people laid off from January to July alone almost matched last year’s total. In the last month, 110,000 people registered to seek jobs, but only 60,000 job openings were available, the council said.

While the council has come up with plans to lower the jobless rate, such as the “get to work immediately” program, it has also predicted even higher unemployment rates for last month.

“This is an economic problem that we can’t do anything about … The labor market is reliant on the international market,” Pan said.

Taiwan relies heavily on exports, and if demand is down internationally, Taiwanese companies suffer, he said.

“This is a tough time that we must all get through together,” he said.
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