May Day in Taiwan

Thousands Demonstrate on Ketagalan Boulevard for International Workers’ Day

Brian Hioe
Organized labor groups rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office Building today for International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day in other parts of the world. Though the rally was not as large as in past years, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the gradual accommodation to COVID-19 in Taiwanese society is what has allowed for International Workers’ Day demonstrations to again take place. Last year, for example, only saw a few hundred workers participate in International Workers’ Day commemorations that were significantly scaled down...
EnglishLaborMay 2022Social Movements6 min read

2019 International Workers’ Day Demonstration Draws Thousands in Taipei

Brian Hioe
International Workers' Day saw thousands of workers take to the streets of Taipei today, with the demonstration beginning at noon today on Ketagalan Boulevard and ending around 4 PM. The demonstration involved throwing papers with a list of demands at the Legislative Yuan, firing bottle rockets at the Presidential Office, and a skit involving presidential contenders and the sea goddess Mazu...
EnglishLaborMay 2019Social Movements7 min read

Ahead of International Workers’ Day, Migrant Workers Demonstrate Outside of Ministry of Labor

Brian Hioe
A demonstration by migrant workers took place outside of the Ministry of Labor this afternoon. Migrant workers demonstrated today because April 28th is the last Sunday before May 1st, which is International Workers’ Day, and which is commemorated with a labor protest every year in Taiwan. However, unless May 1st falls on Sunday—which is usually the only day off that migrant workers have off every week, if they have one at all—most migrant workers are unable to demonstrate that day...
April 2019EnglishLaborSocial Movements6 min read