At a news conference on Tuesday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) called for national action against labor abuse, urging the government to pass legislation to establish and enforce mandatory human rights due diligence standards for businesses.
Her remarks followed US Customs and Border Protection’s import ban on Taiwan-made bicycles and components by Giant Manufacturing — the first time a Taiwanese manufacturer has faced such sanctions.
The Withhold Release Order (WRO), issued on Sept. 24, cited multiple labor rights infringements, from abusive working and living conditions and withheld wages to debt bondage and excessive overtime.
Taiwan is no stranger to scandals involving abuses of migrant workers — a longstanding systemic issue that was placed under the international spotlight just months ago by a CNN report detailing human rights abuses in the nation’s fishing industry.
In response to the WRO, Giant spokesman Ken Li (李書耕) said that US Customs and Border Protection had not visited the company’s factories to conduct on-site investigations, implying that the US order lacked sufficient justification. The company said that it is “committed to upholding human rights” and would file a petition to revoke the ban.
Given Taiwan’s ongoing trade negotiations with Washington, some have suggested that the WRO might be politically motivated, but in truth, the motivations behind the order are irrelevant.
Taiwan’s legal framework for protecting labor rights, especially for migrant workers, remains hollow and fragmented. Labor agencies, legal loopholes and inconsistent enforcement create ripe conditions for such abuses to persist across industries.
A study by the Taiwan Labor Front found that many of the nation’s top 500 enterprises are ignorant of human rights principles, while the National Human Rights Commission highlighted the heavy reliance on high-intensity, low-wage labor in Taiwan’s manufacturing and construction sectors, often leading to practices that constitute forced labor.
Taiwan’s credibility is being put to the test. This case not only has the potential to damage one company’s reputation, but risks undermining confidence in Taiwan’s export integrity at a moment when the nation desperately needs to deepen global partnerships.
Lawmakers should heed the calls for mandatory human rights due diligence standards, expanded labor rights protections for migrant workers and more rigorous monitoring of working conditions.
Firms must be legally required to identify, prevent and remedy rights violations in their operations and supply chains. Inspections should be made rigorous, whistle-blowers protected and businesses educated on international labor norms. Standards must be made mandatory and enforced properly, and gaps in government supervision must be closed.
Reducing reliance on labor brokers and promoting direct hiring could also minimize opportunities for the exploitation of foreign workers. Transparency, accountability and enforceable consequences are the cornerstones of meaningful reform.
The sanctions on Giant have created a rare policy window. With the new legislative session under way, now is an opportune time for lawmakers to take decisive action on strengthening labor rights protections.
This is critical not only for safeguarding Taiwan’s international reputation, but for protecting export industries already under pressure from US tariffs. Immediate action could prevent future labor abuses, rebuild trust in Taiwanese supply chains and demonstrate that the nation upholds labor standards.
Giant might be the first Taiwanese manufacturer to face sanctions of this kind, but it would not be the last if the nation’s systemic failures continue to go unaddressed. Without legislative reform and stronger government oversight, more companies could find themselves in similar crises.
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