Employers urged to prioritize workers' safety

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 22, 2006. It reports that the Council of Labor Affairs in Taiwan is making a great effort to let the nation's employers know the importance of the safety of their workers. Indeed, protecting the safety of their employees will result in higher profits for these employers.

The occupation-related mortality rate in Taiwan is relatively high, when compared to developed countries such as Japan and England. This is despite the fact that the figure has dropped from 77 deaths per 1 million employees in 2000, to 44 per 1 million employees in 2004.

Specifically, the occupation-related mortality rate in Taiwan in 2004 was 44 per 1 million employees; while it was 26 in Japan, and 7 in England. These figures show that there is an urgent need for the Council of Labor Affairs to take concrete measures in order to reduce the number of occupation-related deaths in Taiwan.

Statistics provided by the Council of Labor Affairs show that In 2004, 308 people died from occupation-related injuries in Taiwan, while some 3,338 suffered occupational disabilities. Also in that year, financial losses due to occupational injuries or accidents were estimated at NT$34 billion.

The Council of Labor Affairs has set a goal of reducing the occupation-related mortality rate in Taiwan by at least 20 percent within two years. It has proposed a "222 Program" that runs from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007.

A major feature of the "222 Program" is that both employees and employers are invited to work on reducing the number of work-related accidents. According to the Council of Labor Affairs, this will create a mutually beneficial situation, as the relationship between employers and employees should be interdependent, with both sides working toward the same goal.

In addition to prioritizing the safety of employees, the Council of Labor Affairs is also placing strong emphasis on retirement benefits. A new labor retirement pension system was recently implemented, which requires employers to deposit six percent of the wages of their employees into individual retirement funds.

Employees can apply for a labor protection card that can be used at local ATMs, so that they can check the status of their retirement funds. More significantly, the Council of Labor Affairs wants to ensure that all those who want to work can have a job. Special emphasis is placed on the employment rights of disadvantaged groups, such as middle-aged and elderly women, the mentally or physically challenged, and indigenous people.

The unemployment rate in Taiwan reached 5 percent in 2001. However, the jobless rate has since been decreasing and was down to 3.8 percent in February 2006.

Regarding the rights of foreign workers, it is often the case that these workers had been informed about Taiwan's labor rights and regulations before they entered Taiwan. The Council of Labor Affairs provides assistance to foreign workers when necessary. All foreign workers can also find help and information - and file complaints - at the foreign workers service center at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.