In response to reciprocal US tariffs, exchange rate volatility, and shifts in the international trade landscape, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) has allocated a NT$25 billion special budget. This funding, authorized under the "Special Statute on Strengthening the Resilience of the Economy, Society, and National Security in Response to International Developments," will be used to launch five major measures to support stable employment for workers and bolster the Labor Insurance Fund, demonstrating the MOL's firm commitment to protecting workers' rights and public livelihood security.

I. Guaranteeing wages - Strengthening employment stability: Effective August 1, 2025, the enhanced Employment Stabilization Measures will be implemented. These measures expand applicability to nine industries, increase the wage differential subsidy for workers on reduced working hours from 50% to 70%, and allow for combined application with the "Recharge and Restart Training Program."

II. Recharging and training skills - Acquiring capabilities during reduced working hours: Effective July 4, 2025, workers on reduced working hours who participate in approved training courses can apply for an allowance based on their total training hours, up to a maximum of NT$17,210. Additionally, workers whose monthly insured salary ranges from NT$28,590 to NT$30,300 are allowed to receive a maximum of NT$2,280 per month.

III. Encouraging on-the-job training - Subsidies for company-run training programs: Implemented starting April 2025, this measure assists companies in boosting their employees' competencies. It offers subsidies of up to NT$2 million for in-house or collaborative training, and has been extended until the end of September to bridge the gap with the following year's training cycle.

IV. Supporting employers, backing workers - Integrating re-employment measures: (I) Supporting employers: This measure encourages employers to conduct on-the-job training using a "hire first, train later" model, providing an annual subsidy of up to NT$1.8 million. It also offers a wage subsidy of up to NT$36,000 per person and job accommodation subsidies of up to NT$100,000 per person annually. (II) Backing labor: This measure offers workers early re-employment incentives, issuing incentives with a maximum benefit of NT$108,000 per person for employment in sectors facing labor shortages.

V. Assisting youth - Supporting entry into the workplace and employment: This measure offers first-time job seekers combined job-search allowances and employment incentives totaling up to NT$48,000, and provides unemployed youth with a training incentive of NT$10,000 per month.

Additionally, the MOL has allocated NT$10 billion from the special budget to bolster the Labor Insurance Fund, ensuring the system's stability. The MOL emphasized that it will roll out the measures in stages and as conditions require, based on the impact of tariffs and the broader economic situation, including improving labor rights and the work environment, all with the goal of fully supporting workers' stable employment.

Keywords: Special Statute on Strengthening Resilience, Measures to Support Labor Stability, and Labor Insurance Fund

The "Flexible Parental Leave Without Pay" initiative is scheduled to be officially implemented on January 1, 2026. Its contents are as follows:

I. Parental leave without pay can be taken by the day:
Parental leave without pay can be applied for by the day. Within the existing two-year parental leave period, employees can flexibly take leave for up to 30 days. Both parents combined are entitled to 60 days of leave. Employees who take this flexible leave can still claim the 80% wage subsidy during their original period of eligibility for parental leave without pay.

II. Family care leaves can be taken by the hour:
Family care leaves and normal leave without pay for caring for family members can now be applied for in hours, and employers are not allowed to deduct attendance bonuses for this reason.

In addition, taking into account different aspects such as the corporate side, workers with childcare needs, and other colleagues in the workplace, three supporting measures are planned, including rewarding and supporting family-friendly companies, allowing workers to apply in advance to facilitate corporate scheduling, and providing flexibility for employees to work overtime in temporary emergencies. To give employers sufficient time to arrange replacement staff for employees using flexible parental leave without pay, workers are required to submit applications five days in advance. Furthermore, for sudden, temporary needs, specifically in situations like a child's illness or the suspension of daycare or school, it is clearly stipulated that applications may be submitted to the employer one day in advance.

To encourage employers to accommodate employees' flexible care needs, the government will provide financial support to small and micro enterprises: employers will receive a fixed NT$1,000 incentive for every application of parental leave without pay. Moreover, companies that promote "family-friendly" measures exceeding legal requirements will be included in the "Work-Life Balance Award" category, publicly recognizing their efforts to provide child-friendly measures tailored to employee needs. Additionally, by strengthening guidance on ESG information disclosure for medium and large enterprises, the government aims to enhance the visibility of companies' family-friendly workplace measures. This provides stakeholders with a more comprehensive understanding of the employee-friendly environment companies foster, which in turn helps them with talent recruitment and retention.

Keywords: Gender Equality in Employment Act, Parental Leave Without Pay, Family Care

To foster cooperation and harmonize labor-management relations, all companies, regardless of size, are legally required to establish and regularly convene labor-management meetings. The Ministry of Labor (MOL) has compiled a list of common errors in practice and urges all companies to take note:

I. Failure to meet quorum requirements: A labor-management meeting only meets the quorum if more than half of the representatives from both the labor and management sides are present. Proxies cannot be counted towards the total number of representatives present or for voting on resolutions. If either side fails to achieve majority attendance, the meeting is invalid and must be reconvened.

II. Industry establishments with business sites of 30 or more employees that jointly hold labor-management meetings: If an industry establishment operates multiple business sites (e.g., branch offices, factories, or district offices) with 30 or more employees, each site must hold its own labor-management meeting independently. Joint meetings by the parent company across sites or with subsidiaries are not permitted; each location must convene its meeting separately.

III. Failure to complete record-keeping procedures for the list of labor-management representatives: After an industry establishment elects or appoints representatives for labor-management meetings, or upon changes due to replacements, by-elections, or reassignments, the updated list must be submitted to the local competent authority for record-keeping.

IV. The meeting notice period is less than seven days: The notice of a labor-management meeting should be issued seven days before the meeting, and proposals should be distributed to all representatives three days before the meeting. Furthermore, Article 120 of the Civil Code stipulates that when a period is determined by date, the initial day is not included. Such as: Notice issued on September 9 → The period begins on September 10, and seven days are completed on September 16 → The meeting should be convened on or after September 17.

V. No electronic records were preserved for video conferences: Industry establishments should properly retain electronic records that can prove the identity and attendance of participants (such as online sign-in records, system login data, or online meeting screenshots) to serve as evidence of the meeting being legally convened.

The MOL emphasizes that implementing labor-management meetings in accordance with the law is a crucial mechanism for all companies to improve corporate governance and stabilize labor-management relations, contributing to their harmony and sustainable development.

Keywords: Labor-Management Meetings, Video Conferences, Labor-Management Relations

The 55th National Skills Competition was held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from July 16 to July 20, 2025. It brought together a total of 1,231 youth and junior competitors from across the nation to compete in 69 skills. This year's competition was further centered on the theme: "My Limits, Undefined," symbolizing the competitors' spirit of courageous breakthrough and pursuit of excellence.

This event was not only the premier annual gathering for the domestic skills community but also served as a key precursor to the "3rd WorldSkills Asia Competition," scheduled for November in Taipei. The outstanding competitors will have the opportunity to become national competitors and represent Taiwan in the WorldSkills Asia Competition and the "48th World Skills Competition" to be held in Shanghai in 2026, showcasing Taiwan's technological strength to the world.

At the closing and awards ceremony, President Lai Ching-te and Minister of Labor Hung Sun-Han attended in person to offer their blessings and encouragement to the competitors. In his speech, President Lai highlighted that vocational and technical talent forms the foundation of national competitiveness. He affirmed the government's commitment to investing in vocational and technical education, with the hope that talent across all sectors will thrive and serve as "mountains that protect the nation." He also encouraged the competitors to give their all at the WorldSkills Asia Competition and achieve outstanding results for Taiwan. Minister Hung stated that the Ministry of Labor (MOL) will continue to help young people achieve better pay and working conditions in the workplace. He affirmed that, medal or not, all participants in the competition are true winners, adding that the event was not the finish line, but that the skills they've honed will continue to shine brightly in their lives and careers. He expressed hope that these competitors will go on to inspire innovation in industry, technology, and talent, creating significant value for society.

The MOL also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the many companies for their support in nurturing skilled talent and shared its hope to continue collaborating to advance Taiwan's skills development in the future. For more information about the competition, please visit the official Facebook fan page, "Worldskills Chinese Taipei," (https://www.facebook.com/WDASEC) or the Instagram account, @worldskillstw.

Keywords: 55th National Skills Competition, 3rd WorldSkills Asia Competition, Skilled Talent

The 12th Meeting of the Trade and Labour Committee under the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC) was convened virtually on August 6, 2025 (Taipei time). New Zealand was represented by Nita Zodgekar, Manager of the International Labour Policy Team at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Mr. Geremy Schofield, Senior Policy Advisor, and other officials. Taiwan's delegation was led by Chuang Mei-Chuan, Director-General of the Department of General Planning, Ministry of Labor (MOL), with colleagues from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, and the Workforce Development Agency. Christopher John Langley, Director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, and his colleagues also attended the meeting in person at the Taipei venue, while Howard Sung, Director of the Economic Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Wellington, in New Zealand, and his colleagues participated online. The International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs also sent representatives to attend.

The meeting began with presentations on the "labor situation development" in both countries. Subsequently, the discussion focused on occupational safety and health (OSH) issues, including an in-depth review of the key points for the amendment of Taiwan's Occupational Safety and Health Act. New Zealand, in turn, shared updates on the consultation and reform of its national workplace health and safety system. The parties also exchanged views on green economy and labor market policies, with Taiwan presenting research outcomes on economic transformation in line with net-zero goals, and New Zealand outlining reforms to its employment relations framework. Both sides also shared experiences related to vocational and technical training. A total of eight reports were presented at the meeting.

When discussing future cooperation, the parties supported exploring possible opportunities in areas such as OSH, just transition in labor, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). At the closing session, MOL Director-General Chuang expressed gratitude to the New Zealand delegation, the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, the International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Economic Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand for their support and assistance in organizing the meeting. Both sides looked forward to continuing dialogue on important policy issues and legal developments, fostering diversified cooperation, and establishing channels for broader exchanges. Both sides agreed to work together to convert talks into concrete policy actions. The 13th Trade and Labour Committee Meeting will be hosted by New Zealand in 2027.

Keywords: ANZTEC, Occupational Safety and Health, Green Economy

Ministry of Labor (MOL) Chief Secretary Tzou Tzu-Lien attended the Global Initiative for Safety, Health and Well-being (GISHW) at the 2025 World Expo, held in Osaka, Japan, from July 16 to 19, 2025. In addition to participating in the OSH-Leader Roundtable, Chief Secretary Tzou was an invited speaker at the International Standardization Forum. He shared Taiwan's efforts and practical application of laws to prevent workplace violence and combat workplace bullying, which garnered significant attention and led to lively exchanges among international experts and scholars.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated that the GISHW, held for the first time at the 2025 World Expo, aims to build a sustainable society. The initiative is grounded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the International Labor Organization's Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the International Social Security Association's (ISSA) "Vision Zero" philosophy. Its core mission is to prioritize the safety, health, and well-being of every worker as the key to realizing global common welfare. One hundred and fifty-nine countries and nine international organizations (in addition to the host country) participated in the event. Attendees, including international organization representatives, occupational safety and health experts, business leaders, scholars, and students, collaborated to discuss issues such as artificial intelligence, climate change, ESG, and mental health.

Chief Secretary Tzou participated in a session on "Mental Health Conditions and Workplace Harassment and Violence" alongside speakers from the United States, Australia, Japan, and South Africa, where they discussed their respective national policies, practices, and experiences. Chief Secretary Tzou shared Taiwan's success and outcomes in preventing workplace violence and sexual harassment. He also provided an overview of workplace bullying in Taiwan and detailed the proposed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. These key amendments, which include a "special chapter on workplace bullying prevention," aim to clarify the definition of workplace bullying, strengthen internal and external complaint investigation and handling mechanisms, and enhance protection for victimized workers.

The reform of Taiwan's legal system garnered support from several international organizations, a sign of the global focus on workers' physical and mental well-being. Going forward, the MOL will continuously track the development of relevant international laws and regulations to use as a reference for future domestic regulatory changes.

Keywords: Workplace Bullying Prevention, Occupational Safety and Health, International Exchange