On behalf of the government, Premier Mao Chi-kuo today expressed his highest respect and gratitude to laborers.
The government is safeguarding laborers' welfare while also promoting sustainable growth of enterprises, Mao said. Legislative amendments to benefit workers in the past year include instituting paid prenatal checkup leave, extending paid paternal leave, and raising Labor Insurance maternity benefits from one month of salary to two months, as well as full-scale enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act since January 1, 2015, extending coverage to over 10 million workers.
Concrete measures to improve laborers' well-being also included raising the monthly wage and hourly basic wage to NT$20,008 (US$639) and NT$120 (US$3.83) respectively. These new rates will become effective this July 1. Moreover, a draft revision of the Labor Standards Act to reduce the number of regular weekly working hours to 40 has already passed preliminary review by the Legislature.
The premier made these remarks at an award ceremony honoring 51 model workers and representatives of 22 companies that have signed collective agreements with their employees. The premier congratulated the awardees and wished all workers a happy Labor Day tomorrow.