One rest day and one work day becomes final; workers definitely lose seven holidays

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Editorial Department compiled and reported

After nearly a year of heated debate, the amendment to the Labor Standards Act, which concerns the rights of 8.5 million workers nationwide, was passed in the Legislative Yuan during the second reading vote on the 6th with 60 votes in favor and 40 against, approving the Democratic Progressive Party caucus’s revision proposal. The one rest day and one work day draft includes the cancellation of seven labor holidays, making national holidays consistent across the country, and defines the two-day weekly rest as one rest day and one day off—with the day off allowing for overtime work.

According to the new law, the seven national holidays for workers—including the day after New Year’s Day (1/2), Youth Day (3/29), Teachers’ Day (9/28), Retrocession Day (10/28), Chiang Kai-shek’s Birthday (10/31), Sun Yat-sen’s Birthday (11/12), and Constitution Day (12/25)—will only be commemorated and not granted as days off.

The Executive Yuan emphasized that the labor policy guarantees include: increased salaries, reduced working hours, protection for atypical workers, support for youth and middle-to-older aged employment, and care for workers suffering from occupational injuries. Through the revision of this “Labor Standards Act,” the rights of workers are being implemented. The passage of the new bill will inevitably also have a certain impact on how some workers arrange their leave and travel.