Visiting US labor union leaders said yesterday that despite Taiwan's democratic achievements it still lacks labor law reform.
Delegates from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) came to Taiwan on Wednesday for a three-day visit, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After visiting two factories and industrial unions in Kaohsiung, the delegation went to the Legislative Yuan yesterday and met with KMT and DPP legislators on the social welfare and health committee.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"Taiwan's lack of labor law reform is not consistent with its progress in democracy," said Phillip A. Fishman, assistant director of the the federation's international affairs department.
Fishman was referring the current situation of Taiwan's national trade union. According to the Labor Union Law, only one national trade union is allowed to represent the entire spectrum of Taiwan's laborers.
The current organization is represented by the Chinese Federation of Labor (CFL,
Its president, Lee Cheng-tsong (
"It is not good to have a union that is internally controlled," Fishman told the Taipei Times.
In fact, several labor groups and unions have started organizing a trade union federation in spite of the legal restriction.
The National Trade Union Preparation Association (
The group's aim was to push for reform of the Union Law, especially to put an end to restrictions on the number of unions.
Responding to questions on whether it can fully represent Taiwan's laborers, Pan His-wei (
Pan said the group insists on a single national union as specified by the Labor Union Law.
"It is more beneficial to the workers when bargaining with politicians and employers," said Pan.
Lee Cheng-tsong also clarified the group's connection with the ruling party.
"The interests of laborers are above the interests of any political party," said Lee. "We and other directors have a consensus on that."
The Labor Union Law was last amended in 1975. An official from the Council of Labor Affairs said the government is planning for the law to be amended again, but a draft has yet to be passed by the labor council.
According to T. C. Tong (
"It's not an important issue. The more important concern is the independence of the unions," Tong said.
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