Transportation Minister Ho-Chen Tan is calling on the public to appreciate and be more understanding of the hard-working employees of the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA). Ho-Chen was speaking Monday during an inspection of a railway yard in New Taipei City.
His call comes ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on September 15th this year. The rail authority has decided to increase service to meet travel needs during the four-day long weekend. That’s despite a shortage of manpower and overworked employees threatening to protest.
Ho-Chen said he appreciated the sacrifices of TRA employees.
“For nearly ten months, there have been no new hires. But the first group of new hires will begin in October and they will help operations staff. About 60% of them, around 150 people, will help out in October. The increased rail service that began in the summer will continue through the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival," said Ho, "TRA employees have been working really hard. We want to thank them for their hard work and we urge the public to offer some encouragement because they are enabling the public to return home during the holidays with a typhoon on the way.”
Ho-Chen said that the TRA will decrease rail service from late September moving into October, and that the government will address complaints about stipends and vacation days.