Brian Hioeby Brian Hioe
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Photo Credit: Brian Hioe
ORGANIZED LABOR GROUPS demonstrated on May 1st, commemorated as May Day or International Workers’ Day in different parts of the world. It is estimated that 6,000 were in attendance. What was most distinctive about the march this year was the inclusion of migrant labor unions, not only with their participation but also the incorporation of labor demands for migrant workers into the core demands of the demonstration. The march began at Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building, then proceeded to the Legislative Yuan. An action theater skit was held of workers taking hammers to individuals dressed as politicians.
Medical workers demonstrating for better labor conditions at May Day. also known as International Workers’ Day. Photo credit: Brian Hioe
The rally had a number of primary demands. These included increasing the mandatory contribution to pensions by employers from 6% to 12%, abolishing the upper limit for years that can be used in calculating retirement pensions, increasing the pay cap on severance pay, increasing the maximum insured salary under the labor insurance program from 45,800 NT to 48,200 NT, while the maximum salary eligible for mandatory pension contribution by employers from 150,000 NT to 313,000 NT. Likewise, workers called for full coverage of labor insurance for all workers including live-in workers, migrant workers, and workers in companies with less than five employees, inclusion of domestic workers and migrant workers in labor pensions for retirement, that the Public Service Pension Fund should be fully utilized to make pensions for teachers and public servants equivalent with those for military, and increasing retirement subsidies for private school teachers from 12% to 15% to be equal with public school teachers.
Mock funeral for the ROC constitution. Photo credit: Brian Hioe
The inclusion of migrant workers in demands about pensions is worth noting. May Day demonstrators were likely hoping to draw a line in the sand when it comes to the treatment of migrant workers. The same day, another rally organized by the Taiwan Solidarity Union lashed out at migrant workers, with the claim that the Ministry of Labor was seeking to benefit migrant workers over Taiwanese natives. Migrant workers who have absconded from the job–usually due to poor labor conditions–were termed a danger to Taiwanese society, as a marauding, vagrant force.
The same day, a march against the “One China” constitution was held, as organized by the Economic Democracy Union. Many of the stalwart groups of Taiwanese civil society, such as the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Covenants Watch, and etc., were in attendance. The rally called for the revision of the ROC constitution, with the view that, as the present constitution was not written by elected representatives of Taiwan, and framed Taiwan as the “free area” of China, as contrasted to the Chinese mainland being the unfree area, this did not truly allow for Taiwanese sovereignty. At the rally, a mock funeral for the ROC constitution was held as a form of action theater.
Demonstrators against the “One China” constitution. Photo credit: Brian Hioe
To this extent, as might be unsurprising for a rally calling for constitutional reform, the KMT was heavily criticized at the rally. Criticisms focused on KMT chair Cheng Li-wun circumventing democratic institutions to meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping during her recent trip to China, as well as the pan-Blue camp seeking to pass legislation that would allow Chinese nationals to hold office without forfeiting their Chinese nationality. More generally, the KMT’s attempt to drastically limit the power of other branches of government was criticized as reminiscent of past unelected legislatures during the authoritarian period.
It proves a bit odd that two rallies, which normally would attract similar participants, were held on the same day. At the same time, Taiwanese civil society groups do not always have a strong presence on May Day, even when they may support workers’ demands.