Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee.
The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely.
Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position.
Photo: Liao Cheng-hui, Taipei Times
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology and ordered the ministry to hand the case to prosecutors for further investigation.
Cho also asked all government agencies to review internal regulations regarding workplace bullying and, if necessary, amend their rules to enhance employee protection and expedite investigation.
An employee surnamed Wu (吳) was on Nov. 4 found dead at the Executive Yuan’s Sinjhuang Coworking Office Building, with preliminary investigations indicating that the cause of death was suicide, which allegedly happened after Hsieh’s bullying.
Ho faced criticism and questions from lawmakers in a meeting of the legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee over the ministry’s handling of the bullying case.
Asked whether her comments on being willing to take political responsibility meant that she was stepping down, Ho replied in the affirmative.
Committee convener Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉) approved a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus proposal to forward the case to the Control Yuan and the Disciplinary Court, and bring in a third party for the investigation.
KMT Legislator Chen Ching-hui (陳菁徽) alleged on Facebook that Ho Pei-shan had called DPP Deputy Secretary-General Ho Po-wen (何博文), asking him to “rein in” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) New Taipei City Councilor Lee Yu-hsiang (李宇翔), who blew the whistle on the incident.
Chen alleged that Lee had worked at the Workforce Development Agency’s northern branch and therefore wanted to bring the case to light.
In a post on Facebook, Ho Po-wen said he had spoken with Ho Pei-shan on Nov. 1, and she called to ask him to pass on the message that the Ministry of Labor would be launching an investigation involving third-party organizations and to say that she hoped to establish a direct channel between her staff and Lee.
Ho Pei-shan made the call because she was “not familiar” with Lee, he said, adding that he had forwarded the messages to Lee and told him to “do what you need to do.”
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