Taiwan’s parliament has passed measures aimed at increasing the employment rate among older workers. The law’s effective date will be announced in 2020. The Middle-Aged and Seniors Employment Protection Law aims to increase the protection of older workers aged 45–65 years (middle-aged workers) and those over age 65. Government data forecasts that elderly individuals will exceed 20% of the population by 2026. 

Highlights

• Older workers must be treated equally with regard to recruitment, promotion, salary, benefits, retirement issues, dismissal, employee performance evaluation and the allocation of roles.
• Employers are encouraged to increase their hiring of older workers (for example, by offering fixed-term contracts and job redesign).
• The government will offer subsidies to employers that hire previously retired workers, and local labor authorities will offer training opportunities, job-matching services for workers and employers, and legal advice.
• Workers who believe they have experienced discrimination will be allowed to file a complaint with the local labor authority and will be protected from dismissal, transfer or any other type of retribution. 
• Employers that breach the act could be fined up to NT$1.5 million for a discriminatory act or between NT$20,000 and NT$300,000 if they fire or transfer a worker who has filed a complaint.
• Employers that breach the act could be “named and shamed” by the ministry of labor and ordered to make improvements within a set timeframe.  

Related Resources

• Government Announcement (Chinese) (Ministry of Labor, 15 Nov 2019)
• Government Announcement and Law Details (Chinese) (Ministry of Labor, 4 Dec 2019)