TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — KMT and TPP lawmakers expressed support for restoring seven public holidays that were removed in 2016, saying they plan to push for changes to labor regulations.
KMT Legislator Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭) told reporters on Monday that he expects a draft bill on the changes to enter a second or third reading during the current legislative session, per UDN. Niu said he has consulted labor unions and held public hearings on the issue, adding that the proposal has backing from legislators Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷), and others.
KMT Caucus Leader Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said while the draft bill has not been designated as a priority, some lawmakers' proposals were feasible. He said discussions should focus on reinstating days off for Labor Day (May 1), Teachers’ Day (Sept. 28), Constitution Day (Dec. 25), and Retrocession Day (Oct. 25).
TPP Legislator Lin Kuo-chen (林國成) said his party supports the proposal, arguing that the holidays should be restored as a matter of course.
The seven-day entitlement was removed in 2016 as part of labor law amendments that mandated two days off per week for all workers. In 2024, Taiwanese private-sector employees will receive 12 public holidays.
DPP Caucus Secretary-General Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) criticized the proposal, arguing that it contradicts the KMT’s stated focus on improving livelihoods. She accused the KMT of using the issue for political gain and urged against “populist policymaking.”
Wu warned that reinstating the holidays could significantly impact industrial development and called for broader discussions on the proposal.
The Ministry of the Interior, which determines public holidays, said the issue has been widely debated across various sectors. It added that any changes should consider workers' rights, industrial operations, financial impact, and transportation needs.
Lin Chia-wei (林佳瑋), a consultant for the Taoyuan City Federation of Trade Unions, voiced support for the proposal, noting that Taiwan has some of the longest working hours in Asia. He pointed out that Japan and South Korea have expanded public holidays while Taiwanese workers remain overburdened.
Hsin Ping-lung (辛炳隆), an associate professor at National Taiwan University’s Graduate Institute of National Development, urged the government to carefully evaluate the policy. He suggested that companies might accept the additional holidays if they are not required to pay employees for those days off.
Hsin also recommended expanding paid annual leave rather than reinstating public holidays. He cautioned against granting holidays for specific professions, such as Teachers' Day, as it could lead to demands from other sectors.
