unions in Taiwan

Public Sector Workers Call for Pay Increase

Brian Hioe
Public sector workers, civil servants, and unions of state-owned enterprises demonstrated in late April to call for an increase in pay. This included groups that traditionally are not allowed to have unions, in that public sector workers are not allowed to unionize. This has been a matter of controversy in past years, particularly after deaths of firefighters that led to calls for firefighters being allowed to unionize...
EnglishLaborMay 2026Social Movements3 min read

Autumn Struggle Labor Demonstration Calls for “Peaceful Reunification”, Features Cheng Li-wun

Brian Hioe
Autumn Struggle, historically one of Taiwan’s two major annual labor protests alongside May Day, took place late last month on November 30th. In recent years, however, Autumn Struggle has become known for its drift toward the KMT, as reflective of the influence of the pro-unification left within Taiwanese labor circles. This was again the case this year, with KMT chair Cheng Li-wun making an appearance at Autumn Struggle...
December 2025EnglishLaborPoliticsSocial Movements5 min read

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