The labor ministry has announced that Taiwan will have a shorter work week and more holidays beginning January 1.The changes are the latest revision to the Enforcement Rules of the Labor Standards Act.
The revision will shorten the work week from 42 hours to 40. Workers will work eight-hour days and be allowed two days off a week. There will also be six more national holidays a year.
Other changes include mandatory make-up holidays when national holidays coincide with weekends. Revised rules also mandate that employers must pay for overtime work. They also require that minors receive the same wages as adult workers. Currently, underage workers receive 70% of normal wages.
New regulations also recognize all verifiable methods of registering workers' arrival at the workplace. These include sign-in books, electronic and biomechanical swipe cards, and computer records. Employers will be required to keep records for five years and provide copies at the request of the labor ministry. Employees will also be given the right to negotiate with employers to adjust shifts for family reasons.