Two petitions calling for a shorter workweek have passed the threshold required for a government response.
The first petition on the National Development Council’s Public Policy Online Participation Platform urges the government to “make Taiwan the first in Asia” to implement a three-day weekend, while the second calls for a reduction in the total number of working hours to six or seven daily, or 30 to 35 per week.
The Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) currently stipulates a maximum of eight hours daily or 40 per week, although breaks are often not included and overtime is common.
Photo: CNA
As the petitions have received more than 5,000 signatures each, the relevant government agencies must issue a response by June 26 and July 2 respectively.
As a three-day weekend would also impact the military, public agencies and schools, the Ministry of Labor must first discuss the matter with other ministries, Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Director Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛) told the Central News Agency on Monday.
As for amending the Labor Standards Act to shorten the workday, Huang said the Ministry of Labor would be the agency responsible for drafting an amendment.
However, it would require discussion with other ministries, businesses and labor groups, he said, promising to issue a response by the deadline after conferring with stakeholders.
According to the first petition, although the average annual hours for a Taiwanese worker marked a new low at 2,000 hours in 2021, it is still the fourth-highest in the world.
It also cites recent trials at several companies in Europe and the US, which have reported higher revenue and lower employee turnover since implementing a three-day weekend.
The second petition also cites potential benefits to workplace safety, traffic safety, health and the birthrate.
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