The Ministry of Labor has revised its work attendance rules to clarify employer responsibilities, requiring companies to provide commuting assistance for employees asked to work during natural disasters, including covering taxi fares if necessary.
The amendments to the Guidelines for Workers’ Attendance Management and Wages in Institutions Affected by Natural Disasters (天然災害發生事業單位勞工出勤管理及工資給付要點) were announced on Friday by the ministry.
Employers should generally avoid requiring staff to work during disasters such as typhoons unless it is essential, but if both sides agree it is necessary, the employer must provide commuting support, Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Director Huang Chi-ya (黃琦雅) said.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kun, Taipei Times
Disputes have arisen over whether injuries sustained while commuting during disasters qualifiy as occupational accidents, but court rulings have confirmed that such injuries are considered work-related and subject to compensation, she said.
An existing provision under the guidelines was amended to specifically include the term “commuting assistance.”
When employees are asked to report for work, but need to take a taxi for safety reasons, the transportation cost should be covered by the employer, Huang said.
For example, if a worker normally receives a NT$200 transportation allowance, but must spend NT$400 on a taxi during a typhoon, the employer is responsible for the additional cost, she said.
The revised guidelines also require employers to clearly inform workers, through labor contracts, collective agreements or workplace rules, of the commuting assistance they provide, she added.
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