The Cabinet yesterday passed amendments to the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) proposed by the Ministry of Labor, which would introduce “one fixed day off and one flexible rest day” — or yili yixiu (一例一休) — as two weekly days off to guarantee the realization of the 40--hour work week policy, while canceling seven days off for national holidays.
“With efforts from the Ministry of Labor, Executive Yuan staff and the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] caucus, we have finally produced this version [of amendments]. Despite all the difficulties, it is a more feasible version that would lead to as little conflict as possible,” Premier Lin Chuan (林全) was quoted as saying by Cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) in a post-meeting news conference. “However, there are still differences of opinion, and we need to continue to communicate with the public.”
According to the ministry’s proposed amendments, employers may ask employees to work on their “fixed day off” only in the event of a natural disaster or emergency, and would have to compensate employees with double salary for the day plus an additional day off to make up for it.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Regarding the “flexible rest day,” employers may ask employees to work after obtaining their consent, but are obligated to provide additional pay, ranging from one and one-third to one and two-thirds times the worker’s basic salary.
However, employees would not get an extra day off if they work on a “flexible rest day.”
Moreover, the proposal would also cancel seven holidays for workers to make all workers, including civil servants, enjoy the same number of national holidays.
The Cabinet’s final amendment proposals drew fire from both labor rights advocates and businesses.
Labor rights activists have been calling for two fixed days off per week and to keep the seven national holidays, while businesses have complained about the high overtime pay they have to offer employees to have them work on a “flexible rest day.”
The seven holidays that the ministry proposed to cancel were also a point of dispute as the government has revised its stance about whether to keep the holidays several times, and has been accused by labor activists of breaking its promise.
Separately, DPP caucus chief executive Wu Ping-jui (吳秉叡) said after a lunch meeting with the premier that the caucus would seek to pass the amendments in September.
“The premier would like the amendments to be passed as soon as possible, so that businesses can more accurately calculate their costs,” Wu said.
He said that not all caucus members supported the proposals, but added that working conditions would improve with the amendments, as they would require employers to provide more overtime pay and obtain consent from their employees to have them work on their rest days.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old