The Ministry of Labor and the European Union Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion hosted the sixth Taiwan-EU Labor Consultation July 14 in Taipei City, underscoring bilateral commitment to cooperation in labor affairs.
Labor Minister Hung Sun-han met with Mario Nava, director general of DG EMPL, who led the European delegation. This is the first visit to Taiwan by an EU director-general since 2015, the Ministry of Labor said.
Discussions centered on human rights, as Hung noted that the country has an increased dependence on migrant workers and the MOL has responsibility to create transparency around working conditions for foreign laborers. He added that in 2024, the European Union passed a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and a regulation banning products made with forced labor, standards which Taiwan enterprises need to meet.
Hung pointed out that the EU proposed a Union of Skills project in March this year, which aligns with recent domestic policies and may provide potential for cooperation.
Nava lauded achievements stemming from long term collaboration, while recognizing the MOL’s awareness of CSDDD as well as issues of forced labor. He pledged that the DG EMPL would continue communication and collaboration with Taiwan through the annual consultation.
At the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture Fishery Agency and local civil groups advocating labor rights for fishing crews participated, together with representatives from Belgium-headquartered European Transport Workers’ Federation and the Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association based in the Netherlands. A memorandum of understanding will be signed by the FA with Indonesian labor unions, the MOL stated. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News