Workers Demand Shorter Hours

From World Socialist Web Site, 16 December 2000

Hundreds of workers marched through the capital Taipei in mid-December demanding a reduction in working hours to 84 hours per fortnight. The working week is still 48 hours.

The workers were angered by the decision of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, headed by President Chen Shui-bian, to scrap a proposal to reduce the working week from 48 hours a week to 44.

This overturned a parliamentary recommendation that the maximum working hours be 84 hours per fortnight.

During elections in 2000, the DPP promised the working week would be reduced to 40 hours. Under big business pressure, however, the government has withdrawn its pledge.