Taiwan 4-day workweek proposal reaches support threshold

台灣周休三日提案獲得支持率突破

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A proposal advocating for a four-day workweek on Taiwan’s public policy participation platform has exceeded the required support threshold, garnering over 5,700 endorsements.

In response, Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said Monday that the ministry is collecting input from various stakeholders. He noted that Taiwan’s diverse business landscape and labor employment patterns mean that perspectives from different workers and enterprises must be carefully considered, CNA reported.

Hung added that the proposal itself requires further evaluation, as views on workweek reduction may vary depending on company size and employee circumstances. Under platform regulations, the government is required to respond by Dec. 7.

Taiwan has a legally established two-day weekend and maintains uniform public holidays nationwide. Statistics show that workers in the country averaged 2,030 hours of work last year, ranking fifth globally and marking a 10-hour increase compared with 2023, according to CTS.

While a shorter workweek may face short-term resistance from small and medium-sized enterprises, studies in countries including the UK, Japan, and Iceland suggest that, over the long term, productivity remains stable and workers benefit from reduced hours.