A finale was officially pronounced for the workweek dispute yesterday following the failure of a last-ditch attempt to reach a compromise.
This means working hours will be reduced to 84 hours per fortnight starting Jan. 1, as the legislature decided on June 16.
"It is totally hopeless [to expect the decision to change] at this point. It's a done deal," said Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (
Wang made the announcement after a final round of discussions was opened yesterday -- three days before the new workweek is to take effect -- but still produced no agreement between opposition and ruling legislators.
Discussion over the workweek issue was renewed in November when the Executive Yuan sought to reverse the June 16 decision by proposing a 44-hour workweek, saying that the shorter working hours would be inappropriate at a time of a downturn in Taiwan's economy and a rising unemployment rate.
As the Executive Yuan's proposal had failed to win workers' support, opposition lawmakers proposed a compromise between the 84-hour-per-fortnight measure and the 44-hour workweek.
Under their proposal, the limit on working hours would be maintained at 84 hours per fortnight, but there would be a one-year transitional period in which employers could opt for 88 hours per fortnight only after obtaining their employees' consent.
DPP legislators disagreed on the length of the transitional period and wanted to have it extended for at least an additional six months.
KMT legislators, however, insisted that the DPP accept the one-year offer or the June 16 decision.
They argued that there would still be time to extend the transitional period next year if the need arose.
After negotiations broke down on Thursday, the DPP caucus yesterday proposed adding a condition in the amendment which would allow an automatic extension of six months in case the unemployment rate exceeds 3.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2001.
This proposal was rejected.
"We have tried our best to seize the last opportunity to try and reverse the situation. But the result is disappointing and regrettable," said DPP caucus whip Hsu Tain-tsair (
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