Premier Mao Chi-kuo today received representatives of seven industry and commerce associations to exchange opinions on amending the Labor Standards Act and another three laws related to pay raises.
Amendments on wage increases, employment and adjustments to working hours have drawn much attention lately, Mao said. Therefore, the executive and legislative branches are promoting these changes in response to the public's demand. The government will strive to balance industrial development with workers' rights and listen humbly to the concerns of both sides.
After the meeting, Spokesperson of the Executive Yuan Sun Lih-chyun said the premier was pleased to reach a consensus with the associations on the issues of two-day weekends, employee profit-sharing, and salary increases. As for changing Article 30 of the Labor Standards Act to reduce the number of regular working hours to 80 every two weeks or 40 every week, the Executive Yuan has already drafted an amendment and will submit it to the Cabinet's meeting next week for discussion.
The premier hopes the number of regular working hours will be changed to 40 per week but indicated that overtime hours can be flexible, Sun said. Premier Mao asked Labor Minister Chen Hsiung-wen to negotiate and communicate with the associations over flexible overtime hours. Mao also asked Executive Yuan Secretary-General Chien Tai-lang to convey the associations' concerns to Legislature Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and to ask for Wang's assistance in arranging for a legislative review of the four laws as soon as possible.