A prominent labor group has raised concerns over the government’s proposed COVID-19 stimulus program. The Taiwan Workers United labor group says that only business owners can claim funding under the current plan. It says there’s no guarantee workers will receive any compensation.
The Cabinet recently published a proposal for its fourth round of COVID-19 relief spending. The plan comes in response to a surge in local COVID-19 cases which began in mid-May. It is Taiwan’s worst outbreak since the pandemic began.
Under the Cabinet’s plan, a tax-registered business that sees sharp drops in revenue can apply for subsidies based on how many employees it has. Furthermore, businesses in industries that were ordered by the government to shut down can receive additional aid.
However, the group points out that only business owners can apply for and receive relief funds. If the business owner decides not to seek financial support and suspend operations instead, employees are powerless to do anything. The group says even if employers do apply, there is no guarantee that employees will receive any support.
The labor group also says that the government’s stimulus plan is based on how many salaried employees a business has. Hourly wage workers, by comparison, receive fewer protections under the proposed bill. But the labor group says the hardest hit sectors, such as the restaurant and entertainment industries, often employ large numbers of hourly wage workers.
The labor group is urging the government to include mechanisms to guarantee the rights of workers in the relief spending plan.