Taiwan's Ministry of Labor has officially rejected a popular proposal to implement a nationwide four-day workweek, sparking pushback from labor groups who argue that if working hours cannot be cut, the government must at least empower unions to negotiate genuine flexibility.
In a response issued this week—two months past its original deadline—the ministry addressed a citizen proposal on the Public Policy Network Participation Platform that called for a "three-day weekend" system. The proposal, which gained enough signatures to force a government response in 2025, argued that a four-day workweek would improve mental health, reduce stress, and lower carbon emissions through reduced commuting.
However, the Ministry of Labor stated that a blanket reduction in workdays involves complex factors, including worker income stability and the varying needs of different industries. While acknowledging that "flexible working hours" are a necessary discussion point given Taiwan's aging society and caregiving needs, the ministry concluded that the current focus must remain on enforcing the existing two-day weekend system.
Union Pushback: Flexibility vs. Deregulation
The rejection drew a sharp rebuke from the Taiwan Workers' Struggle Union, which stated on January 10 that the government was conflating "reduced hours" with "flexible hours."
"Even if a three-day weekend cannot be promoted, other policies to reduce working hours could be considered," the union stated, suggesting alternatives such as increasing the number of national holidays or mandatory annual leave.
The union warned that "flexible working hours" is often used as a euphemism for deregulation that benefits employers by cutting costs. Instead, they argued that flexibility should mean allowing workers to adjust start and end times to balance family care responsibilities without suffering pay cuts.
The Core Issue: Negotiation Rights
The Taiwan Workers' Struggle Union emphasized that true flexibility is impossible without collective bargaining. They noted that the vast majority of workers in Taiwan’s small and medium-sized enterprises lack the leverage to negotiate favorable terms.
The union called on the Ministry of Labor to lower the legal threshold for forming unions and to remove barriers that prevent industrial and occupational unions from negotiating directly with employers. Without these structural changes, the union argued, the government's talk of "flexibility" will remain futile for most of the workforce.
Regional Context
The debate comes as Taiwan grapples with a reputation for long working hours. According to the latest data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Taiwan ranks 54th globally in working hours but still logs more hours on average than neighboring Japan and South Korea.
The original proposal for the three-day weekend had garnered significant public support, with proponents arguing it would help attract talent and allow workers more time for further education and family life.
