Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) today accepted Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan’s (何佩珊) resignation over the ministry’s handling of a civil servant’s suicide earlier this month, Executive Yuan spokesperson Lee Hui-chih (李慧芝) said.
Cho designated Vice Minister of Labor Chen Ming-jen (陳明仁) to act as interim minister while the Executive Yuan finds a suitable candidate, Lee said.
A ministry employee surnamed Wu (吳) was found dead at the Executive Yuan’s Sinjhuang Coworking Office Building in New Taipei City on Nov. 4, with preliminary investigations indicating that the cause of death was suicide.
Photo: CNA
Wu was the only full-time employee responsible for an employment services system and the only staff member who provided information services at the branch, Ho told a news conference on Tuesday.
The ministry concluded that the excessive workload, pressure to succeed and lack of support from colleagues made Wu feel powerless, Ho said.
The premier has instructed all ministries and agencies to complete investigations into current employee complaints within one week and report back to the Executive Yuan, Lee said today.
He has also requested all ministries and agencies to review the standard operating procedures for handling workplace bullying and propose improvements, Lee added.
Cho emphasized strengthening external investigation and protecting the rights of those involved in complaints, she said.
Civil servants play a key role in the government, which in turn has a responsibility to protect its employees from workplace bullying, Lee said.
The Executive Yuan would establish a system for investigating complaints under the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration to protect employees, Lee added.
The system would be supervised by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫), ensuring that employees whose complaints have been repeatedly dismissed or who require special protection have accessible and diverse channels to be heard, she said.
The goal is to ensure that no civil servant experiencing workplace bullying is overlooked, Lee added.
Additional reporting by CNA
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