The severe situation of low wages and high working hours in Taiwan is worsening. Huang Kuo-chang, the leader of the Taiwan People's Party Legislative Yuan caucus, sharply criticized Labor Minister Hong Shen-han during a press conference, asking, "Do you still recognize yourself?" (Photo / Provided by the Taiwan People's Party, 2025.04.30)

As tomorrow marks International Workers' Day, the Taiwan People's Party caucus held a press conference today (30th) announcing proposals to amend laws to restore at least five national holidays, legalize the three-shift nurse patient ratio, create a delivery worker law, and implement anti-bullying legislation. Huang pointed out that Taiwan's workers had an average working time of 2030.4 hours last year, ranking sixth globally and second in Asia.

He highlighted that working hours exceeded 2000 in 2022, reached 2019 hours in 2023, and astonishingly soared to 2030.4 hours in 2024, reflecting a worsening cycle of low wages and long hours, surpassing those of neighboring Japan and South Korea. Huang criticized the Democratic Progressive Party's lack of support for labor rights and questioned why President Tsai Ing-wen's promises to workers have failed.