TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Multiple civic groups on Thursday (Nov. 21) urged the government to allow civil servants to form unions to protect their fundamental labor rights. These calls came amid ongoing discussions about a Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) case involving alleged supervisory bullying, which has sparked widespread concern.
The National Federation of Teachers Unions (NFTU, 全國教師工會總聯合會), the Taiwan Federation of Financial Unions (全國金融業工會聯合總會), and the Confederation of Taipei Trade Unions (台北市產業總工會) presented five demands. These include permitting civil servant unions, punishing workplace bullying, conducting independent investigations, improving employee grievance mechanisms, and scrutinizing the legality of promotions for implicated supervisors.
Hou Chun-liang (侯俊良), chairman of the NFTU, criticized MOL for failing to protect workers, noting that its report could not substantiate the bullying claims. He claimed that it shocked and left the public unable to accept it. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) emphasized the necessity of unionizing civil servants and advocated for employee assistance programs, including counseling and grievance channels.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Tu Chuan-chi (涂權吉) called for an investigation into the legality of promotions for supervisors, particularly those with high employee turnover rates. Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Legislator Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿) highlighted the importance of dignity in civil service work, urging government review and reform.
The case, which has caused a public uproar, prompted Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to apologize on Wednesday and announce a detailed investigation. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) also apologized via Facebook to affected civil servants and their families, pledging to eliminate workplace bullying.
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