Labor Minister Kuo Fang-yu says that employees need to show flexibility as Taiwan moves to introduce a five-day work week.
Last week, the Cabinet approved a draft amendment to the Labor Standards Act giving all workers two days off per week. One day is mandatory, while employees can negotiate to work for overtime pay on the other.
Labor groups say they are unsatisfied with the draft and have asked for two regulated days off per week with no overtime. However, Kuo told the Legislature Wednesday that the draft must give workers with low hourly pay to the opportunity to work overtime. He said that Taiwanese workers will eventually come to place a greater value on a work-life balance, but that in the interim, the draft amendment offers the best way forward.
"This is currently the solution that strikes the best balance between the interests of employers and employees. Therefore I hope we can get everyone’s support. Our eventual goal is to reach a point where all workers get two regulated days off [every week]. But before we get to that, we need a transitional plan, [and making one of the two days off negotiable for overtime work] is the best compromise," Kuo said.
There are worries that employers might exploit their employees by not paying them overtime pay. Kuo said that the draft amendment clearly states that overtime pay must be between 2.34 and 2.67 times the employee’s regular hourly wage. Kuo also said the labor ministry will adjust policies that also allow employers to compensate employees’ overtime work with additional days off.