TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) reported on Friday (Jan. 3) that labor disputes in Taiwan reached 20,406 cases by September 2024, marking an increase from the same period in 2023. Wang Hou-wei (王厚偉), an MOL official, noted that the number of disputes has consistently ranged between 25,000 and 27,000 over the past five years.
In 2023, wage arrears topped the list of disputes, accounting for 40% of cases. Severance payments followed with 6,238 cases, representing 24%. Other significant categories included occupational hazard compensation and contract disputes, each making up 7% with 1,814 and 1,808 cases, respectively.
Common issues in wage arrears disputes included employers paying below minimum wage and unilateral salary deductions. Severance payment disputes often arose from confusion between layoffs and dismissals. Other prevalent disputes involved employers asking employees to sign voluntary resignation forms or unilaterally refusing to hire.
Wang suggested that companies review their compliance with labor regulations and establish employee grievance mechanisms to reduce disputes. The Ministry of Labor offers resources such as the Labor E-learning Network (勞教E網) to help companies foster harmonious labor relations.