Taiwan labor groups urge unified penalties for minimum wage violations

台灣勞團籲統一基本工資違規罰則

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Labor groups have called on the government to standardize penalties for employers who pay below the minimum wage, saying inconsistent local rules weaken enforcement, CNA reported Wednesday.

The Taiwan Labor Front said fine standards vary among local governments and industrial parks overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It said the differences could reduce the effectiveness of the Minimum Wage Act.

Taiwan Labor Front Secretary-General Yang Shu-wei (楊書瑋) said enforcement varies widely across the country. Under current guidelines for economics ministry industrial parks, he said an employer could commit more than 50 violations before receiving the maximum fine.

Yang said similar differences exist among Taiwan’s six special municipalities. Tainan and several counties have yet to establish specific fine guidelines for minimum wage or Labor Standards Act violations.

Taipei Confederation of Trade Unions Deputy Chair Wang Yen-chieh (王燕杰) said authorities recorded 153 minimum wage violations nationwide last year. Under the fine standards used in economics ministry industrial parks, only a small number of repeat offenders would have received the maximum penalty, per Rti.

Labor groups said consistent enforcement is especially important for younger workers, who often have less bargaining power and may fear losing their jobs if they report violations.

Taiwan Alliance for Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare Secretary-General Chang Yu-chia (張祐嘉) cited a 2024 labor ministry survey showing 59% of workers aged 15 to 29 did not state an expected salary when applying for jobs, per UDN.

Among young workers who received pay raises, 23.5% said minimum wage increases were one factor. Chang said the findings showed the minimum wage remains an important safeguard for workers with limited bargaining power.

The Taiwan Labor Front urged the labor ministry to work with local governments and the economics ministry to create a nationwide penalty standard. It proposed imposing the maximum fine after an employer commits five or more violations, per Nownews.

The group also urged financial regulators to review sustainability reports filed by listed companies. It said companies that violate minimum wage rules but fail to disclose the cases should be publicly identified, per CTS News.

The labor ministry said it has asked local authorities to follow common penalty principles under the Labor Standards Act when handling minimum wage cases. It has proposed formally adding the Minimum Wage Act to the guidelines, and local labor authorities have agreed to follow the revised standards once the changes are completed, per Tai Sounds.