TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Approximately 4,000 individuals gathered on Ketagalan Boulevard for a massive march organized by the Labour Day 51 Alliance (五一行動聯盟) on Wednesday (May 1) to mark Labour Day.
The march, which stretched from the Presidential Office to the Legislative Yuan, highlighted the deteriorating labor environment in Taiwan, including issues such as low wages, long working hours, reduced national holidays, and insufficient retirement protections.
Demanding Better Labor Rights
The alliance criticized the current state of labor rights in Taiwan, pointing out the lack of sufficient protections for workers and the worsening conditions in the workplace.
As the President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) government is set to take office on May 20, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Labor Standards Act, the alliance is pushing for "no honeymoon for consecutive governance, the parliament to amend laws in support of labor rights."
They urge the incoming government to fulfill its pre-election promises to support labor.
A Call for Government Action
Chiang Chien-hsing (江健興), the head of the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions, emphasized the tradition of labor groups gathering annually on Labour Day to voice their demands to the government.
With the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) entering its third consecutive term, Chiang insists on immediate public scrutiny and labor oversight of the government.
He also called on Lai to engage more with workers and to consult with unions before formulating policies.