Wu Xuming, a veteran porter who specialized in carrying heavy gear for hikers, tragically fell to his death last year after being overloaded with equipment. Yesterday, Jim Duff, founder of the International Porter Protection Group, personally appealed to Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng in Taiwan, calling on the Taiwanese authorities to immediately
Wu Xuming, who has scaled numerous peaks, turned professional as a porter out of his passion for mountaineering. Last November, while assisting hikers in the remote mountains of Hualien, he accidentally fell off a cliff while carrying 60 kilograms of gear—equivalent in weight to about 600 bottles of water. The incident brought the working conditions of porters in Taiwan into the spotlight. Yesterday, Du Fu, accompanied by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien Chiu-chin, advocated for the rights of porters.
Working Conditions: Only Verbal Agreements
In a letter to Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng, Du Fu stated that Taiwan has the highest mountain density in the world, making mountaineering education extremely important. Valuing the professional skills and fair treatment of porters can effectively
积极为背工意外事件奔走的“博崴妈妈”杜丽芳指出，国际上背工的负重规范为30公斤，但台湾背工为了多赚一点钱，经常背负40到60公斤“坐骨、膝盖都坏掉，糖尿病、肾脏病上身”，许多登山客习惯讨价还价“讲好一天4,000块，到了第二天东西变轻了，降成3,000块，到最后一天只给500块！”加上背工与雇主之间仅有口头约定，不仅没有法律保障，更遑论意外保险“背工在山上生病，还要自己走下山”。
薪资保险 全无保障
劳委会劳动条件处长刘传名坦言，背工这类在台湾虽存在已久，但过去比较少讨论其劳动权益的保障问题，劳委会将研究台湾背工的雇用样态，有的背工可能有固定雇主，有的是个人承揽生意，须先厘清劳动关系，再看如何充实劳动权益的保障。
工作伤害受害人协会秘书长黄小陵也说，应该协助背工成立工会，因为背工最清楚自己的工作风险、有什么立法需求。
台湾劳工阵线秘书长孙友联说，独自承揽生意的背工，发生意外没有任何社会保险可关照，他支持修法，将背工纳入社会安全体系的保障。